GIVING BATS PLACE TO HANG OUT : CAVES BECOME SANCTUARY.(News)

The U.S. Forest Service has completed its program to protect entrances to four bat caves at an inactive gold mine in the Angeles National Forest.

Since the gates were erected in December, some bats have returned to the cave, according to Martin Esparza, a lands and minerals specialist with the Forest Service.

The gates were erected to keep humans out and encourage bats to take up residence in the tunnels, which extend back 150 feet at some points. On Monday, two roads leading to the caves were removed to further discourage traffic to the mine.

In the spring, a biologist will conduct a study to determine whether the bats are happy in the protected cave. Esparza said a few hundred bats eventually could move into the cave. Mexican free-tail bats and little brown bats are common in the area.

Bats are extremely beneficial to pollinating and getting rid of insects but have been disappearing in recent years do to encroaching development. ``They never bother humans,'' Esparza said, explaining that people should never touch a bat they find on the ground. ``If you see a bat on the ground, he's probably sick.''

The $15,000 project was paid for by the Forest Service with special funds for mine rehabilitation, Esparza said.

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos

Photo: (1,2--Ran in SAC and AV--color) Above, U.S. Forest Service Ranger Martin Esparza stands near one of four entrances to bat caves in the Angeles National Forest that were fitted with gates to keep humans out. At right, Esparza does some spelunking in the hoped-for home for bats.

(3--Ran in SAC and AV--color) U.S. Forest officials take out roads to bat caves.

John Lazar/Special to the Daily News

GIVING BATS PLACE TO HANG OUT : CAVES BECOME SANCTUARY.(News)

The U.S. Forest Service has completed its program to protect entrances to four bat caves at an inactive gold mine in the Angeles National Forest.

Since the gates were erected in December, some bats have returned to the cave, according to Martin Esparza, a lands and minerals specialist with the Forest Service.

The gates were erected to keep humans out and encourage bats to take up residence in the tunnels, which extend back 150 feet at some points. On Monday, two roads leading to the caves were removed to further discourage traffic to the mine.

In the spring, a biologist will conduct a study to determine whether the bats are happy in the protected cave. Esparza said a few hundred bats eventually could move into the cave. Mexican free-tail bats and little brown bats are common in the area.

Bats are extremely beneficial to pollinating and getting rid of insects but have been disappearing in recent years do to encroaching development. ``They never bother humans,'' Esparza said, explaining that people should never touch a bat they find on the ground. ``If you see a bat on the ground, he's probably sick.''

The $15,000 project was paid for by the Forest Service with special funds for mine rehabilitation, Esparza said.

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos

Photo: (1,2--Ran in SAC and AV--color) Above, U.S. Forest Service Ranger Martin Esparza stands near one of four entrances to bat caves in the Angeles National Forest that were fitted with gates to keep humans out. At right, Esparza does some spelunking in the hoped-for home for bats.

(3--Ran in SAC and AV--color) U.S. Forest officials take out roads to bat caves.

John Lazar/Special to the Daily News