Chapter 4 Habitats
2 Disturbance from human intrusions can disrupt normal animal activities (hibernation, roosting) and introduce contamination from other sites (fungal spores, disease). Most accessible caves or mines experience some level of human visitation by caving and rock- climbing enthusiasts. 2 Caves are at risk of being developed into tourist attractions, often with lighting, tours, gates, etc. These activities result in detrimental impacts to habitat conditions for cave-dwelling animals, as well as disrupted normal behavior patterns, effectively eliminating habitat for many cave animals. Linville Caverns is the only cave complex that has been commercially developed as a recreational destination in the state. 3 Caves and mines provide unique microclimates that some species require during key phases of their life history (e.g., bat hibernation). Even slight increases in temperature can change the humidity in these environments and increase the potential for fungal and bacterial growth. Evidence of temperature variability is the increased occurrence of WNS in winter hibernating bats.
Recreation
Development
Climate Change
4.4.2.5 Impacts to Wildlife Appendix 3 provides a list of the SGCN and other priority species for which there are knowledge gaps and management concerns. Appendices 3-17 (wildlife) and 3-22 (plants) identify SGCN that depend on or are associated with this habitat type. Subterranean aquatic communities are described in Section 4.2.6. We have some accurate assessment of the wildlife habitat potential of abandoned mines in North Carolina, and since the first SWAP published in 2005, we certainly have a better idea as to their individual suitability for use by cave-dwelling animals or plants (NCWRC unpublished data) . Some portions of abandoned subsurface mines function similarly to caves in providing the range of microhabitat conditions that cave-obligate species need, especially larger mine excavations that can provide the volume and air flow needed by cave-dwelling species (particularly bats of various species). Smaller mines may support use by small numbers of individuals. Other human infrastructures, such as bridges, culverts, and buildings, can also serve as a roost, hibernaculum, or other habitat elements naturally found in caves. White-nose Syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease that affects hibernating bats, is reported to be caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Blehert et al. 2009; Frick et al. 2015) , formerly Geomyces destructans (Lorch et al. 2011; Hayes 2012) . The first evidence of the disease was documented in 2006 and since then, there has been widespread evidence of its impact on bats. WNS has already decimated populations of most cave-dwelling species of bats in the state, especially Tricolored
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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