Tobaccoport Saltpeter Cave, Stewart County, Tennessee
August 2019
Gate Type: POWERS FENCE
This is an important site for gray bats, a federally Endangered species. It was gated many years ago, but the bats did not take to it. The gate was later modified with a chute, but it still wasn’t the best, and vandals were sneaking in to the cave. We determined that a proper cupola and chute was going to be too large, difficult, and expensive to build. The next best thing was a Powers Fence, named after the late Mastergater, Roy Powers, who designed the first one at Bellamy Cave. This is the second Powers Fence ever built, and is very effective at protecting the bats while keeping out unauthorized visitors. All photos © Jim Kennedy.