Otter Trail Porcupine Cave

Anthony Hitchcock

This small cave is situated about 100 metres east of the Otter Trail Guano Cave and set in the hill slope a few metres from the trail path. The entrance is about 10 metres wide and the floor slopes up to the left at about 30 degrees. This slope is formed by a conglomeration of earth and rocks that forms a large mound at the entrance.

The floor slopes down into the cave entrance chamber and then levels out. The cave passage continues along the left hand wall and up a steep slippery slope and then slopes down a steep jagged and constricted passage. This passage levels out in a terminal passage or linear chamber in which there is plenty of evidence of porcupine habitation.

There is also a low level passage that links the entrance chamber with the end chamber, but it is difficult to enter and would need to be widened if one wanted to get through.

The cave was surveyed by Amy Reaper, Jessica Hitchcock and me on the 27 September 2006 and measured 35 metres long.

Biota

There were a number of porcupine quills in the cave and a large pile of droppings at the end of the cave. The presence of many gnawed bones also indicated the presence of porcupine however we did not encounter any when surveying the cave. Two Horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus) were seen near the back of the cave.

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