CHAPTER IV: WILDLIFE HABITATS FOR MISSISSIPPI’S SGCN,
THREATS AND CONSERVATION ACTIONS^291A Provide public education about conservation of SGCN and/or their habitats.
A Discourage incompatible recreational uses.
A Promote and develop landowner incentive and assistance programs for conservation of SGCN
and their habitats.
17.2 Caves
Value to SGCN - 23
Rank - 24th of 29 Inland Terrestrial Complexes
(Terrestrial, Wetland, Subterranean and Anthropogenic)DESCRIPTION
Mississippi has several dozen solution caves, which were
created either when the area was submerged under the sea or
by water flowing along cracks through the sedimentary strata. In such situations, the limestone goes into
solution upon contact with acidic water. Approximately 65 caves can be found in Mississippi the
majority of which are found along the Vicksburg Group-Forest Hill Formation. This physiographic
feature is a belt of lime-bearing, Oligocene strata that roughly bisects the state east to west and includes
portions of Wayne, Clark, Jones, Jasper, Smith and Rankin Counties. Caves can provide habitat for
several species of bats and amphibians. However, human disturbances such as vandalism and fires in
caves have made many of these unsuitable roosts for bat species.
LOCATION, SIZE, CONDITION AND CONSERVATION STATUS
EGCP, UEGCP
Caves are found very rarely in some sandstone and limestone formations,
including the Forest Hills Formation and the Tennessee River Hills. The caves
are usually associated to upland hardwood forests. There are only a few acres
of this subterranean subtype (less than 100 acres).
For caves to function as suitable habitats for wildlife species, provisions to
prevent human disturbances such as noise, vandalism and camp fires are
warranted. Additional monitoring of caves would help assess the quality of this
habitat and its popularity to bat species.
Caves are imperiled in the state because of rarity due to very restricted numbers and due to a
deterioration of cave habitats caused by human disturbances.
Range of Caves