Cave Critters

                                    CAVE CRITTERS 

 Click on critter name to see photo.

Unknown Cave Critter video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK7L5K9qGkI if you can ID this critter send email. Thanks

Bat, Big Brown - Weight is 14-21 grams, wingspan is 13-16 inches, lives through out  US and Canada. It consumes  beetles, ants, flies, mosquitos, flies and other insects.

Bat - Ghost Faced-bat

Bat, Little Brown - Myotis lucifugus Little Brown Myotis. Description Variable shades of glossy brown above, with tips of hairs burnished brown; buff below. Tragus rounded and short (about 1/4"/7–8 mm). Calcar lacks keel or sometimes has weak keel. Hairs on toes project beyond ends of toes. Breeding Mates in fall and sometimes again in winter or spring. Sperm remains in female’s reproductive tract until spring, when eggs are fertilized. 1 young born late May–early July, usually in a building, occasionally in a hollow tree. Habitat Areas along streams and lakes. In summer, forms nursery colonies, usually in buildings or other structures. In winter, hibernates in caves and mines in the East. Range Much of North America from middle Alaska south throughout most of Canada and U.S. except s California and much of se and sc U.S. Discussion The Little Brown Myotis (commonly called the Little Brown Bat) is one of the most common bats in the U.S. and Canada. Its nitrate-rich guano was sold as fertilizer in the first half of the 20th century, Nursery colonies begin forming in April or May and disperse from late July through October. They may number in the thousands (one observed maternity colony had 6,700 individuals, others have had 4,000). The first two to three days after the young are born, their mothers suckle them constantly, except while foraging. Until they are ready to fly on their own, at about four weeks, the young remain in the roost while the mother hunts for small insects, especially flies and moths. Bats usually do not carry their young in flight. However, if disturbed, the mother may take flight with the young, carrying it crosswise, with the infant’s mouth grasping one teat and its hindlegs tucked under the opposite armpit. Besides echolocation clicks, this species produces warning "honks" when on a collision course with other bats during feeding or near roosts. In the fall, these bats may fly several hundred miles to a hibernating site; they often can be seen swarming at cave entrances. From September, October, or early November through March or April, they hibernate in irregular clusters, some tight, some loose. They wake an average of once every two weeks during hibernation and may fly about outdoors on warm winter nights, but without feeding. They store about 1/16 ounce (2 g) of fat as winter sustenance, using nearly three-quarters of it during winter awakenings and emergence. The remainder must sustain them through the winter.

Bear - Black Bear - click here for more info.

Bear, blue - This rare bear has been spotted in caves around St. Helens, hanging around bats.  Be careful as it likes to give hugs.

Big Foot - numerous attempts to find his cave home have been unsuccessful so far.

Bugs and other insects - moth - bug. if you know please tell

Cricket -  click here for more info.

Ensantina -  A smooth-skinned salamander (1-1/2 to 3 inches in length) with 12-13 costal grooves and a "swollen" tail, constricted at the base.  Color varies greatly.

Hellgrammites - This animal spends most of its life (two to three years) as a larva,
living underwater. Hellgrammites live under rocks to avoid predators,
especially fish. They ambush other animals, expecially aquatic insects,
such as larvae of dragonflies, damselflies, stoneflies, and mayflies.
Hellgrammites have strong jaws and can draw blood from a human if not
handled carefully. They use these jaws to take apart their prey. Hellgrammites
also have little hooks on their abdomens which allow them to grab onto items
so that they don't get swept away in the current. Hellgrammites are not very
good swimmers. They move mostly by crawling. Web Page. Photo two.

Pikas - Collared Pika - Similar Species American Pika is brownish, lacks collar. Breeding Mates in spring; 1 litter per year; 2-6 young. Habitat Talus slopes. Range Southeastern Alaska to sw Northwest Territories (Mackenzie district). Discussion Like the American Pika, which occurs farther south, this animal piles summer plant cuttings into haystacks to serve as its winter food. Presumably its other habits are similar to those of the American Pika. See photo in gallery.

Scorpion - Not much is known about the scorpion pictured in our files except that it is not deadly.  Please send if you have info on this scorpion found at Mt. St. Helens.

Skink - The Blue-tail skink (picture above) is a young Gilbert skink 2 1/2-4 1/2 inches long. They lose the blue at adulthood.

Spider - don't know this cave spider found in a California cave.

Tick - This blood sucking critters can be found around caves in Trout Lake and all over central Oregon.