They generally form after the initial cavern development, by precipitation of calcium carbonate or, less commonly, calcium sulfate from dripping, seeping, or flowing water. Probably the most widely known cave dwelling animal is the bat. All of Virginia's bats eat insects, but the cave dwelling bats are important to the cave environment for the nutrients they provide from guano and upon their death. Most cave animals are less visible than the much maligned bats. Color and eyes are useless in the total darkness of a cave.
Man is presently the largest animal which visits Virginia caves.
He has used caves for shelter, religious purposes, moonshine production, mining of saltpetre and other materials, source of groundwater, scientific and educational research, recreation, and as commerical attractions. Dixie Caverns , Roanoke County, off Interstate Highway 81, interchange 39 south, or seven miles west of Salem on U.S. Highway 11. Grand Caverns , Augusta County, Grand Caverns Regional Park, near Grottoes off U.S. Highway 340 or Interstate Highway 81, interchange 60, eight miles east via State Highway 256. Endless Caverns , Rockingham County, three miles south of New Market on U.S. Highway 11. Luray Caverns , Page County, West Main Street in Luray, on U.S. Highway 211.