OLIVE HILL, Ky. — The threat of the spread of a deadly disease to bats has closed three caves until further notice at Carter Caves State Resort Park in Olive Hill, Ky.
 

 Bat Cave, Saltpeter Cave and Laurel Cave are closed until further notice because of White Nose Syndrome, a disease that is killing 90-100 percent of hibernating bats in infected caves in the Northeast, is getting closer to the state of Kentucky.
 

All three of these caves are important Bat Hibernacula's for the Federally Endangered Indiana Bat.
 

The Kentucky Department of Parks closed these caves in order to help prevent the introduction of White Nose Syndrome.
 

There are, though, still three caves open for summer tours at Carter Caves, which is located about 45 miles west of Huntington.
 

X-Cave and Cascade Cavern are open for multiple guided tours (fee required) daily, while Horn Hollow (which requires a two-mile round-trip hike) is also open daily to the public.
That wild cave is free and open to explore. Cavers must pick up a free permit from the Welcome Center.
 

The Carter County region has the highest concentration of caves to be found in any area of Kentucky. Two of the park’s caves offer guided tours year-round, Cascade Cave and X-Cave. Horn Hollow Cave is an undeveloped Cave that can be toured on your own by filling out a permit at the Welcome Center. Enjoy a subterranean adventure, created by nature over millions of years.
 

For additional information on the White Nose Syndrome you can visit the following website: http://www.fws.gov/northeast/white_nose.html.
 

For more info about things to do at Carter Caves this summer, go online at www.parks.ky.gov and click onto Carter Caves.
 

Also, go online at www.herald-dispatch.com. Click onto entertainment and then outdoors to find a super-sized site packed with great things to do in the outdoors this summer.
 

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