I actually caught the UP, 'bats save mines' story twice this morning on
NPR here in Reno. It was a good piece and a rarity in addressing
industrial heritage issues. For those that missed it, some of the old
copper mines in Michigan's Upper Peninsula are being left open, with
human-proof protective grates, so that thousands of bats can continue to
use them as hibernation refuges. In the process the mines are preserved
instead of being backfilled and sealed. I wonder if there is any
life-form that specifically utilizes old open-pit mines? Seems
unlikely.
Larry
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