What's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the phrase 'bat cave'? You're probably reminded of the fictional Batman himself, Bruce Wayne. The multitude of Batman television shows and big screen films have been ingrained into the cultural identity of the United States for decades.
Because of an amazing project we just completed for the City of Boulder, we have a new referent that comes to mind when we think of a bat cave. We just completed a custom gate to protect the threatened Townsend's big eared bats which have an annual roosting ground in Boulder's Mallory Cave. This 16' wide gate was fabricated in sections for ease of installation, and it took a team of fabricators, city employees and AmeriCorps volunteers to maneuver the tough vertical terrain to complete the install. This ornamental gate is adorned with bats to remind visitors about what is being protected behind the doors. In the past, a thin mesh fence was the only thing keeping visitors out of the cave, and it was often peeled back, denoting cave intruders.
Humans need to stay out of the cave to prevent the spread of white-nose syndrome, a disease that has wreaked havoc on the bat population in the US; killing over 1 million. Our talented team of designers and fabricators are proud to have been a part of a local project designed to save threatened wildlife. It was also pleasure working with the City of Boulder and our local ranger, Burton Stoner, to ensure the bat cave gate will be a part of Mallory Cave for years to come.
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