Lost River Cave employees ad volunteers work to clear invasive species

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – In a place known for embracing nature, you might not think about the need for maintenance. But that’s exactly the staff and volunteers are doing at Lost River Cave.

Specifically, the woodlands around the cave are what need some restoration. Chad Singer, the operations manager of Lost River Cave, says invasive plants – those that don’t naturally grow in the area – are affecting animals in multiple ways, from taking away animal habitats to strangling out plant nutrients that the animals need to eat to survive.

For example, volunteers found a turtle that lost its sight due to a vitamin A deficiency. Volunteers began bringing in vegetation rich in that vitamin and the turtle regained its sight.

With the help of volunteers, the staff at Lost River Cave hopes to put some of the original vegetation back on the grounds. Kathy Morgeson, a docent at the cave, says she has been researching the grasses and plants that once lived in the area.

So far, more than 400 volunteers have helped with previous restoration work. And after this section of the grounds is complete, another area will undergo restoration.