The Bats Are Leaving - Big Room re-opens at Kartchner Caverns State Park on October 15
The Big Room re-opens and Big Room Tours resume on Monday, October 15 at Kartchner Caverns State Park. Explore the cave, hike, camp, and attend special October programs. It is also time to think about getting cave tours booked in advance for the holidays.
On Saturday, October 6th from 10 to 10:45 a.m., Ranger Emily Bennett will give you an up-close and personal look at a live, common desert snake as you learn more about its fascinating behavior and physiology. Whether you love them or loathe them, join us for insights into the integral role snakes play in our desert ecosystem.
On Sunday, October 7th from 11a.m. to 12 p.m., Ranger Rachel McKay will present “Javelina - Don’t Call Me a Pig!” Where did the javelina come from? Why do they eat prickly pear cactus? Learn why they smell so bad. Whether you love them or see them as pests, come learn about the javelina and how they have adapted to life in the desert.
On Saturday, October 13th from 9 to 10 a.m., you will discover historic mining in nearby Coronado National Forest with Ranger Mike Woods. See a display of mining photos and artifacts as we talk about the 20th century mining of tungsten, quartz, fluorite and uranium.
On Sunday, October 14th from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., Ranger Grant Wiegert will show how to reduce, reuse, refuse, and recycle. Learn what Cochise County is doing to reduce waste. What can business, government agencies, and private individuals do to reduce waste and conserve? Come and find out.
On Saturday, October 20th from 1 to 1:45 p.m., come and join Ranger Susan Stucker on an adventure as she unveils the small world that lives inside our caves. Where did the animals come from that live inside Kartchner Caverns? What do they eat? Where does the food come from? How do they get around in the dark and why would they rather live inside a cave?
On Saturday, October 27th from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., see the presentation “Don’t Tread On Me!” Park Ranger Karen Gonzales tells you how to react if you suddenly find yourself sharing space with a rattlesnake. If you or someone you are with is bitten, what should you do? Learn the answers to these questions and how you can prepare yourself and others to avoid conflicts with one of our desert’s oldest and most successful reptiles.
On Sunday, October 28th from 11 to 10:45 a.m., Ranger Peggy Quiatt will present “Bats: Friend or No?” In Chinese lore bats are considered symbols of good luck and happiness. Join us to find out what bats are, how they live and reproduce, what is harmful to them, what benefit they are to humans, and why they have been revered in other parts of the world. (Open to visitors 4th grade and above.)
At noon daily, join us on the Eco-Science Trek tour. You will learn how science was used to preserve the cave during trail development and in day-to-day operations. Several creative innovations in cave development are helping keep the eco-system pristine. High-tech solutions were created with low-tech materials and visitors will hear that newer products are not always the most suitable for a delicate cave environment. We will share clues to what scientists are doing to learn more about the cave’s eco-systems and discuss the most current scientific research. There are still many scientific mysteries, in this cave, to be discovered by future generations. Although you will be hearing “behind-the-scenes” on this tour, you will still have plenty of time to enjoy the beauty of Kartchner’s wonderful formations, colors, and views!
Reservations for cave tours can be made by calling (520) 586-CAVE (2283) or online at www.azstateparks.com. If you book on the Internet or call the park for RESERVED cave tour tickets, the prices are (Rotunda/Throne Room tour - adults $18.95, children $9.95, Big Room tour - adults $22.95, children $12.95) and you will be guaranteed your tours when you arrive at the park. If you are just in the area and stop by for a walk-up ticket, there is a $5 park entrance fee in addition to the tour ticket prices. Remember there are only 100 walk-up tickets per day.
For more information about Kartchner Caverns State Park call (520) 586-2283. Park Entrance Fee is $5 per vehicle for up to two adults. There is a charge of $2 per adult for each additional adult passenger. (The Park Entrance fee is waived with a tour reservation).
Kartchner Caverns State Park is located on Highway 90, nine miles South of I-10 near Benson, Arizona. Park is open daily. Park hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Discovery Center hours are 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For information about Arizona State Parks call (602) 542-4174 (outside of the Phoenix metro area call toll-free (800) 285-3703) or visit the website at www.azstateparks.com.
Source: Arizona State Parks
To read more about the desert, go to DesertUSA.com.