Black Cat Cave is one of San Antonio’s caves that is widely known by local residents. This news article will explain what Black Cat Cave is.
Black Cat Cave is a cave located on 187 acres of private land in the Stone Oak KFR south of the intersection of Menger Road and Bulverde Road. The cave opening is a short distance from Bulverde Road which crosses its cave footprint and foraging area. Bulverde Road is the major two-lane roadway crosses the middle of Black Cat Cave from north to south. Half of the cave includes a cricket foraging ironically near dense residential development. Black Cat Cave lies under Bulverde Road south of Evans Road. The length of Black Cat Cave is 250 feet long.
Limestone can be found and seen in Black Cat Cave since Black Cat Cave is formed in the Edwards Limestone. The region has exposed areas of Edwards Limestone. Reportedly Black Cat Cave has had a series of heavy fire ant infestation at one point in time or another. (Ref: http://www.mexicancaves.org/other/TMM_SM6.pdf)
The largest room is irregularly shaped and is 8 meters in diameter. The ceiling reaches to a height of 1 meter. A narrow slot on the southeast wall goes to a 2.5 meter drop leading to a room filled with limestone formations. Road pressure is responsible for breaks in some areas. There is standing water which comes from a spring. (Ref: https://tpwd.texas.gov/business/grants/wildlife/section-6/docs/invertebrates/e1_j54_final_report.pdf)
Black Cat Cave offers a variety of habitats suitable for a diverse fauna. Species such as Rhadine exilis, Cicurina (Cicurella) pampa, and Cicurina (Cicurella) puentecilla inhabit Black Cat Cave. Black Cat Caves is home to the eyeless Cicurina species. (Ref: https://tpwd.texas.gov/business/grants/wildlife/section-6/docs/invertebrates/e1_j54_final_report.pdf)
The taxonomy and species of ground beetle known as Rhadine exilis exists inside of Black Cat Cave. Rhadine exilis is known to inhabit Black Cat Cave. Rhadine exilis is considered to be critical habitat. Land use designations and current or planned activities in the subject areas and their possible impacts on the critical habitat. Special management considerations or protections that the features essential to the conservation of the invertebrates (Ref: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2011-02-22/pdf/2011-3038.pdf#page=2)
9 surveys on the study of locating Rhadine exilis in Black Cat Cave were conducted 2008. However none of these surveys have confirmed its presence. Those 9 surveys conducted since 2008 have not confirmed its presence. It has been more than 24 years since Rhadine exilis has been found in the cave.
In addition, the surface habitat has been further degraded since the original specimens were collected. However, because of the cryptic nature of the karst invertebrates, it often takes intensive survey efforts to document a species' presence within a cave and the lack of positive survey results does not indicate with reasonable certainty that R. exilis is currently absent in Black Cat Cave. Although the surface habitat has been degraded, Black Cat Cave and the surrounding mesocaverns still contain the physical or biological features essential to the conservation of the species. Even though recent survey efforts have failed to detect the R. exilis in Black Cat Cave, and the surface habitat has been degraded. (Ref: Krejca and Weckerly 2007, p. 286)
On July 8, 2010, US Fish and Wildlife Service received a petition from Capital Foresight Limited Partnership to revise designated critical habitat for Rhadine exilis. Capital Foresight Limited Partnership alleges that the original specimens collected from Black Cat Cave were never positively identified as R. exilis, another species of Rhadine with a slender body form similar to R. exilis occurs in a cave a short distance from Black Cat Cave that is likely connected by mesocaverns, and that two species of Rhadine with similar body forms have never been documented to occur in the same location. In addition, the petitioner asserts that drinking water is leaking into Black Cat Cave and that the habitat has been highly degraded by the Bulverde Road rending the area no longer suitable for conservation of the species. (Ref: Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 35 / Tuesday, February 22, 2011 / Proposed Rules)
A species expert has identified the original specimen collected from Black Cat Cave as R. exilis. The taxonomy and status of the ground beetle previously identified as Rhadine exilis in Black Cat Cave is threatened along with the value of the cave. The Texas Memorial Museum is working with the Carnegie Museum to locate, obtain, and examine the specimens from Black Cat Cave, but this task has not been accomplished to date. (Ref: Krejca and Weckerly 2007, p. 286)
They stated that another species of Rhadine with a slender body form similar to R. exilis occurs in a cave a short distance from Black Cat Cave, which is likely connected by mesocaverns (small, human-inaccessible, interstitial spaces in karst limestone), and that two species of Rhadine with similar body forms have never been documented to occur in the same location. (Ref: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2012/02/14/2012-2195/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-designation-of-critical-habitat-for-nine-bexar-county)
This species is known from 49 to 55 caves in Bexar County, Texas. The rank of all nine troglobites listed as endangered in Bexar County (USFWS, 2000) is not based primarily on the number of individuals, known locations or decline (all of which are unknown), but rather on the threats these species are facing. Due to the increased urbanization and population growth in Bexar County, these species are undergoing habitat loss and other threats associated with this urbanization. In addition, the status or continued existence of caves in Bexar County is unknown. (Ref: https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.117307/Rhadine_exilis)
Allan Cobb, president of the nonprofit Texas Cave Management Association, said the debate over the status of Black Cat Cave emphasizes the importance of protecting the area's biological diversity. (Ref: https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/education/article/Beetle-causing-headache-for-NEISD-2209744.php)
Drinking water has been not been only alleged but confirmed to be leaking into Black Cat Cave affecting the value of the cave and conservation of the habitat of ground beetle known as Rhadine exilis. (Ref: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2011-02-22/pdf/2011-3038.pdf)
According to the Federal Register, Black Cat Cave also is part of the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone. The groundwater drainage basin for Black Cat Cave and Logan's Cave extend beyond the boundaries of the critical habitat area. (Ref: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2003/04/08/03-7735/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-designation-of-critical-habitat-for-seven-bexar-county)
The City of San Antonio modified the cave entrance in 2013 when Bulverde Road was widened. Extreme caution was taken due to the sensitive nature of this karst feature during the widening of Bulverde Road and construction surrounding Black Cat Cave. A buffer zone was instated and left in its natural state with an enclosure provided such that access to Black Cat Cave was strictly prohibited by unauthorized persons. The buffer zone and cave area are controlled by SAWS as a plan was submitted for a buffer zone surrounding Black Cat Cave. A building permit was not released until appropriate signage for Black Cat Cave was in place. (Ref: https://webapp9.sanantonio.gov/FileNetArchive/%7BA1D79109-E01B-4B24-B033-CCFBBAB15F15%7D/%7BA1D79109-E01B-4B24-B033-CCFBBAB15F15%7D.pdf)
The entrance to Black Cat Cave was located in the cleared area for widening of Bulverde Road. SAWS recommended the road be realigned to protect the cave entrance and the area around the entrance to prevent runoff from the road entering the cave.
Black Cat Cave is located south of the intersection of Menger Road and Bulverde Road, San Antonio, Texas, US 78259. Black Cat Cave lies under Bulverde Road south of Evans Road.
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