Cleaning Bat Guano

So who here can share their Bat Guano cleaning experience, success, failure, and Hanta Virus / Histoplasmosis experiences?

Found an amazing backcountry crag this weekend, but bats will definitely be an issue over the summer.

If it is a bat cave then you shouldn't be disturbing it.

M Sprague wrote:If it is a bat cave then you shouldn't be disturbing it.

Agreed.

Its not a bat cave, and I'm not looking to do anything but clean the better looking and less garden like cracks of the existing guano.

icwdm.org/wildlife/bat/batg… :))

I would try to get more information about the bats. It would seem to me if there was enough guano to be a cleaning issue, then they must use the crag.

I don't disagree, but think the reality is that they're an issue at every crag in the area (general Donner Summit area). This isn't a crag that will ever see significant traffic as its a longer hike than most here are willing to make. That said, that area's where its collected is where gravity has taken the feces. Urine seems to be less of a problem. I'm not looking to displace the bats, only looking to see what others have done in similar situation (how they've cleaned it / protected themselves).

Every crag within a couple of miles smells of guano on still days outside of Snowshed and Star Walls busiest areas where the bats simply don't use the crags any more.

Loosing battle at non-destination crags. The best way to get rid of poop is to find a group of climbers that have sufficeint tolerance to the ick factor and get them to climb laps on it for a few seaons.

Please educate yourself on the ecological impact you would have by disturbing these bat's habitat. This is an extremely important issue that is not worth a few backwater routes that will see minimal traffic.

Prety much every crag I've been to has bats. So back to topic...Again the best way to get rid of the mess is with traffic. If the area is remote and won't see any traffic I question why you would put the routes up in the first place.

So knowing that I'm not worried about traffic or getting rid of the bats just cleaning out the offensive bits, any advice. For folks that have cleaned bat guano, did you take any precaution?

The batshit is not going to hurt you, and brushing a bit of batshit off the holds is not going to hurt the bats. How much can you polish a turd is the question.

gription wrote:Prety much every crag I've been to has bats. So back to topic...Again the best way to get rid of the mess is with traffic. If the area is remote and won't see any traffic I question why you would put the routes up in the first place.

I think he wants to rock climb. Ever watch the pros get on remote routes in the jungles and out in the deserts?

ESL? it's not a cave.

Paul Hutton wrote: I think he wants to rock climb. Ever watch the pros get on remote routes in the jungles and out in the deserts?

I do tons of FAs in remote areas all the time. The FA folks in my area do consider if a climb will be repeated though, especially face climbs. It's mostly a cost benefit consideration. Do we want to put $50.00 to $100.00 dollars in hardware on a route that is so off the track that no one will repeat it? Usually not.

bradyk wrote:How much can you polish a turd is the question.

Something tells me you're referring to this thread, aren't you?

gription wrote:It's mostly a cost benefit consideration. Do we want to put $50.00 to $100.00 dollars in hardware on a route that is so off the track that no one will repeat it? Usually not.

I've been doing my best not to engage in useless banter, but you've got me wondering now. Are you saying repeat-ability is more important to you than the quality of the climb? (My climb is a crack - hardware cost is minimal)... That said, do you think a very high quality climb would justify and potentially create its own traffic?

gription wrote: I do tons of FAs in remote areas all the time. The FA folks in my area do consider if a climb will be repeated though, especially face climbs. It's mostly a cost benefit consideration. Do we want to put $50.00 to $100.00 dollars in hardware on a route that is so off the track that no one will repeat it? Usually not.

It really annoys me when an idea gets discredited because of how "the mainstream" is. Things in the world naturally evolve. Civilization only grows. There could be people living within an hour of this cave sometime in the future. The limits that people in the mainstream know get pushed because some believer wanted to use the inspiration they acquired over time to pay it forward.

I've researched the methods people use to clean rock for establishing routes. Brushes, rebar. I can't remember everything. Haters will hate. We're all organisms, humans and bats alike. Territory gets conquered by the survivors. That's nature. If you can move bats outta your way, what's there to stop you? If I hear about someone getting attacked by bats because they decided to fight back, I'm gonna laugh my ass off. Thanks for your desire to labor for the climbers!

Don't kill us!

^^^^^^ uh oh - a voice of reason!!!! Better ignore and bulldoze onward. Hopefully condos will soon be next to this crag in the woods and we can all feel better about how great humans are and how stupid other species are for being so killable.

I am not diving down your rabbit holes. As near as I can tell you guys are just arguing (badly) for arguments sake. I've stated my position, politely, and am not interested in your petty word smithing. Based on the OP I believe my responses are valid and on point.

/EXIT

Jeremy

Paul Hutton wrote: It really annoys me when an idea gets discredited because of how "the mainstream" is. Things in the world naturally evolve. Civilization only grows. There could be people living within an hour of this cave sometime in the future. The limits that people in the mainstream know get pushed because some believer wanted to use the inspiration they acquired over time to pay it forward. I've researched the methods people use to clean rock for establishing routes. Brushes, rebar. I can't remember everything. Haters will hate. We're all organisms, humans and bats alike. Territory gets conquered by the survivors. That's nature. If you can move bats outta your way, what's there to stop you? If I hear about someone getting attacked by bats because they decided to fight back, I'm gonna laugh my ass off. Thanks for your desire to labor for the climbers!

There are houses within 30 minutes of this crag (Its not a cave (tumor)!) Its simply in an area where most people don't like to walk further than where they can see their car.