Cody Field Office
| Contacts: | Sarah Beckwith | |||
| 307-347-5207 |
BLM Cody Reopens Spirit Mountain Cave
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Cody Field Office has reopened Spirit Mountain Cave after a collapse last year made it unsafe to visit.
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BLM Range Management/Cave Specialist Bryan McKenzie said the BLM couldn’t have reopened Spirit Mountain Cave without the assistance of volunteers and the USFS. “Blasting and working inside a cave comes with unique challenges so we certainly appreciate their efforts,” said McKenzie.
Spirit Mountain Cave is located on public land on Cedar Mountain, approximately three miles west of Cody. More than 1,000 people visit the cave each year.
The BLM reminds the public to not enter any cave unless all clothing and equipment has been de-contaminated to help prevent the spread of White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) to Wyoming. WNS is a fungal disease that has killed more than 5.5 million bats in the eastern third of North America during the past six years and continues to spread south and west. Hibernating bats are especially vulnerable because underground caves provide the cool, moist conditions favorable for the fungus to thrive. Do not use any clothing or equipment in Wyoming caves that have been previously used in states where WNS occurs.
A permit is required to visit Spirit Mountain Cave. For more information or to obtain permits to visit the caves in the Cody Field Office area, contact McKenzie at 307-578-5900 or at bmckenzi@blm.gov. For more information on WNS, visit www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/programs/Wildlife/wns.html.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
Cody Field Office 1002 Blackburn Ave. Cody, WY 82414