Crabtree Cave
An ecosystem without light

Why You Should Visit
Crabtree Cave is a world that exists without the light of the sun, and is habitat to unusual and unique species that have evolved to survive in the permanent darkness.

Visiting the Preserve
The cave is an ecologically fragile--and potentially dangerous--environment.  It is only open to scientific research and to experienced cavers with prior permission from The Nature Conservancy.  Please call (301) 897-8570 to discuss plans for visitation to Crabtree Cave.  Thank you for your understanding and help in protecting this important part of Maryland’s natural heritage.

Location
Western Maryland.

What to See: Plants
None- there is no light to feed plants.

What to See: Animals

• All animals that live permanently within the cave, such as the nationally-rare Franz's cave amphipod and Franz's cave isopod (aquatic invertebrates), have lost their sight and pigment.
• Crabtree Cave is the largest bat hibernaculum in Maryland, and shelters the eastern pipistrel, little brown, big brown, and Keen's bat.

Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
This cave, along with John Friend Cave, are sites that include species of incredible, and fascinating, rarity.

What the Conservancy Is Doing Here

• Maintaining bat-friendly cave gate to prevent trampling of invertebrates and disturbance to hibernating bats.