Have you ever taken in the majestic view from the Creech Overlook on Pine Mountain? What’s before you is both a breathtaking scene and one of the most biologically diverse temperate forests on Earth. Kentucky Natural Lands Trust (KNLT) is focused on safeguarding this special place and earlier this winter acquired an additional 402-acres on the north face of the mountain in Letcher County just below the overlook.
The Karen Wilder Addition doubles the size of our Hurricane Gap Preserve to 836 acres. The preserve protects forested habitat at the headwaters of the North Fork of the Kentucky River. It is within the Appalachian Highlands Wildlands Corridor which is home to thousands of species of plants and animals, more than 250 are rare and a few are found nowhere else on the planet.
“I want to congratulate KNLT on yet another critical acquisition associated with Pine Mountain,” said Lee Andrews, Field Supervisor with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Kentucky Field Office. “KNLT has remained focused on conservation of this important and highly resilient landscape in southeast Kentucky and Central Appalachia since the founding of the organization.“
Andrews noted that with the Wilder tract, KNLT now protects a large area of known swarming habitat for endangered Indiana bats and northern long-eared bats. “These bats use this swarming area in late fall to feed heavily on insects in order to build the fat reserves they need to survive hibernation during the winter months in nearby Line Fork Cave on Kingdom Come State Park Nature Preserve and Green Cave on KNLT’s Warbler Ridge Preserve,” Andrews said.
Hurricane Gap Preserve adds to the overall connectivity of Pine Mountain creating thousands of acres of contiguous protected wildlands in Letcher and Harlan counties. The preserve is along the Pine Mountain State Scenic Trail which is part of the planned 1,800-mile Great Eastern Trail, an important outdoor asset that provides access to nature and contributes to economy of Central Appalachia.
We’re grateful for the support of individual donors, foundations, and partners. We thank the Imperiled Bat Conservation Fund (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kentucky Field Office) and Atira Conservation for making this project possible.
About Kentucky Natural Lands Trust
KNLT is a nationally accredited nonprofit working to protect biodiverse and climate resilient landscapes in ways that benefit communities. Through partnerships with individuals, nonprofits, government agencies and businesses, KNLT has protected more than 59,500 acres of wildlands throughout Kentucky and Central Appalachia. Projects like these would not be possible without the support of our donors! Join our movement and give today: DONATE NOW
For more information on how you can help KNLT protect wildlands, sign up now to receive our monthly newsletter. SUBSCRIBE
#kywildlands #kentuckywildlands #centralappalachia #pinemountain #bats
Cover photo: Creech Overlook and Wilder Addition ~ Bobby Cornett Photography
Indiana Bat ~ Will Seiter, Copperhead Consulting
Great Eastern Trail at Kingdom Come State Park ~ Greg Abernathy, KNLT