ML18023A171

Fws - 2009- TN5114--FWS 2009 Sauta Cave National Wildlife Refuge

ML18023A171
Person / Time
Site:	Clinch River
Issue date:	06/15/2009
From:	US Dept of Interior, Fish & Wildlife Service
To:	Office of New Reactors
Fetter A
References
Download: ML18023A171 (2)

Text

Sauta Cave National Wildlife Refuge Sauta Cave National Wildlife Refuge Southeast Region Search Refuge Finder Welcome to Sauta Cave NWR Service Finder Sauta Cave NWR (known as Blowing Wind Cave NWR until 1999) is a 264 acre Refuge purchased in 1978 to provide Office Finder protection for the federally endangered gray and Indiana bat and their critical habitat. The cave provides a summer Contact Finder roosting site for about 200,000 - 300,000 gray bats and a winter hibernaculum for both the gray and Indiana bats.

There are two entrances into the cave on the Refuge but Wheeler Complex they are closed to the public.

Sauta Cave lower History of the Refuge As is the case with many large caves, rare and unique entrance. Credit: USFWS species occur in Sauta Cave. As a result, the Alabama Directors to the Refuge Natural Heritage Program ranks the cave's biodiversity as a site of very high significance. Surprisingly, the cave is not a pristine one as it was used as a Wildlife Management saltpeter mine during the Civil War, a nightclub during the 1920's, and a fallout shelter during the 1960's.

Public Use Opportunities In addition to the rare fauna within the cave, the federally endangered Price's potato bean Questions & Answers occurs on the Refuge. All 264 acres of habitat outside of the cave is predominately hardwood forest.

Current Events & Planning Hunting Regulations Refuge Facts:

Refuge Fact Sheet Established: Sauta Cave NWR was purchased in 1978 ... to conserve (A) fish or wildlife which are listed as endangered species or threatened species... or (B) plants... U.S.C.

1534 (Endangered Species Act of 1973).

Acres: 264 Formerly known as: Blowing Wind Cave Location: Sauta Cave is located just above the Sauty Creek embayment of TVAs Guntersville Reservoir, 7 miles west of Scottsboro, AL.

Annual Visitors: 5,000 Administered by: Sauta Cave is a satellite Refuge of Wheeler NWR in nearby Decatur, AL. Sauta Cave NWR is currently unstaffed and all management activities are carried out by Wheeler NWR staff.

Wildlife: It serves as a minor hibernation cave for federally endangered gray and Indiana bats and historically a major maternity cave for gray bats. The most recent a summer emergence count documented more than 300,000 - 400,000 gray bats. In addition to the rare fauna within the cave, the federally threatened Price's potato bean occurs on the Refuge.

Habitats: Sauta Cave NWR consists of 264 acres of hardwoods. There are two entrances into the cave on the Refuge but they are closed to the public.

Dwight Cooley, Project Leader 2700 Refuge Headquarters Rd.

Decatur, AL 35603 (256) 353-7243 FAX: (256) 340-9728 E-mail: wheeler@fws.gov Last updated: June 15, 2009 https://www.fws.gov/sautacave/[10/19/2017 11:28:55 AM]

Sauta Cave National Wildlife Refuge Southeast Region Fish & Wildlife Service l U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Home Page l Department of the Interior l USA.gov l About the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service l Accessibility l Privacy l Notices l Disclaimer l FOIA https://www.fws.gov/sautacave/[10/19/2017 11:28:55 AM]