The exhibition has display panels on the timeline and geography of California cave formations. Cave photography, cave archaeology and cave paleontology are the subjects of other interesting displays. You even can learn about cave gear, and the different techniques used for climbing and crawling through caves, and try cave surveying and mapping. The conservation issue is addressed relating to cave-dwelling animals, cleanup and cave damage by careless cave explorers. The only evidence that should be left behind in a cave is footprints, and even those should be minimal, according to the National Park Service and National Speleological Society.
Bats are mammals whose natural habitat is caves.
They are the only flying mammal, and although they have often been persecuted they are very valuable to our ecosystem. A bat can catch up to 1,000 bugs in an hour. The cave exhibition is at the back of the Natural Sciences Gallery. As you go through it, the California Communities and Eco Systems trail leads you through the varied landscapes of coastline, coastal mountains, inner coastal ranges, Central Valley, Sierra Mountains, the Great Basin and the desserts. Beautiful dioramas with wildlife depicted in their natural surroundings are scattered throughout the gallery.