Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Bear Creek Cave (No. 126)

Overview

Location

Sauk County.

Access

Due to sensitive resources, access is for research purposes only. Contact the University of Wisconsin Zoological Museum at (608) 262-3766 and request written permission and directions to the cave entrance.

Description

Description

Bear Creek Cave is recognized by geomorphologists as one of the largest and most beautifully decorated wild caves in Wisconsin. Formed in Prairie du Chien dolomite, the cave is the ninth largest cave known in the state. Quarrying operations, which resulted in its discovery, did some damage to cave formations; however, more than 90% of these speleothems are still in good condition. Although the cave has been available for animal habitation only since it was opened in 1954, a considerable fauna already exists. The bat fauna includes big brown bat, little brown bat, and Georgian bat. The invertebrate list already encompasses an impressive array of cave-preferring species (troglophiles) and endemic cave species (troglobites). These include two species of springtail, four species of flies, a moth, a mite, a millipede, and an isopod. Surface features are second-growth woods and oldfields. Bear Creek Cave is owned by the University of Wisconsin and was designated a State Natural Area in 1974.