Whereas all scientific evidence shows that White Nose Syndrome (WNS) is spread by bat-to-bat contact and that any human vector, if it exists at all, is insignificantly small,
Whereas that vector, if it exists at all, can be easily eliminated through cleaning gear with hot water, which destroys any chance of spreading the fungus,
Whereas closing caves has done nothing to stop the spread of WNS,
Whereas caves that are closed to access by responsible parties are repeatedly defaced and damaged by irresponsible parties,
Whereas many public caves are unique natural, recreational, and scientific resources,
We call upon the Obama administration to keep publicly-owned caves open to the public for the protection of these caves and the resources they contain.