I've been digging for mines in the Trap Hills for ages. I've also been randomly meeting bat researchers out there on several occasions, so I figured the logical thing to do would be team up with them to ensure that as many bats are being counted as possible. Could I be of service to science AND get to find new hidden mines in the U.P.? Turns out, yes!

The DNR bat crew and I met up for a spin in the Trap Hills late in the winter when the bats were still dormant and the mines accessible by snowmobile. We jetted out Victoria Road and decided to visit one area of interest where both parties knew there were two adits with bats inside. Each of us kept our cards close, not wanting to share locations until we could be sure the other party could be trusted. 

We decided to start with one of my locations because it was closest. It turns out we both knew of this one, even though it was the hardest to find and required squeezing through a hole about the size of a beach ball to get into. Drats! I thought I was onto something with this hidden one, but they told me they have data on it for decades. There were just a handful of bats here, so we pressed on.

Next up was my second location. I assured them it was super obvious to find, and as promised, there it was. A wide open adit with about two feet of water inside. They were floored, because although it was on their maps they had never been there before! They donned their waders and tyvek suits and crawled in. I didn't have waders so I had to take photos from the outside, secretly pleased that because they hadn't found this one before that meant that the third location of the day would be a new one for me!

After they'd emerged from the hole with 60+ bats added to the registry, we scooted over to the last adit of the day. This one was hiding in plain sight as well and I'd actually passed by it a few times with suspicion. They had to rapell down a small shaft, then cross sketchy old wooden beams submerged in the water over the rest of the mine shaft before continuing into the adit. Unfortunately, the beams had broken and they couldn't hike inside. Fortunately for me though, I got to learn of a new mine location AND I got some cool photos of researchers wearing Tyvek suits over waders in the winter rapell into a hole. Score!