Alberta’s biggest bat cave, closed to everyone since 2010, and the fungus got in anyway
The largest known bat hibernaculum in Alberta, high on the mountain above the old coal hamlet of Cadomin, and it is CLOSED. A ministerial order shut it on 14 May 2010 to slow white-nose syndrome, the fungus that has killed bats in their millions across the continent, and the closure was extended in 2015 and stands year-round. In Alberta it is an offence to enter any cave where bats are hibernating between 1 September and 30 April, and Cadomin and Wapiabi are closed on every date. In February 2026 white-nose syndrome was confirmed inside this cave. It is here so you know what is under that mountain and why nobody is going in: once a year a small team goes in to count the bats, and that is the whole visitor list.
Other places on the map within a couple of hours.
