Tiny Iron Mine
This abandoned iron mine in Mifflin County was reported by a local landowner who mentioned it to Bryan Crowell of the Nittany Grotto of the National Speleological Society. In 1998 Crowell passed it onto Chris Sanders and Mick O'Mahony who was granted the landowner's permission to survey the site. They proceeded through knee deep water hoping to find at least a handful of bats to justify being immersed in the frigid water. About 250 feet inside and easily still within sight of the entrance, they found the mother load. Almost 2,000 bats were found in an area about the size of small apartment. The mine passage abruptly ends just 50 feet beyond.

It is quite unusual to find such a large concentration in such a small hibernacula, this 120 year old mine with only 300 feet or less of passageway. Common with old mines, the landowner does not permit anyone in the site and is willing to work with conservation groups to seal the portal from human disturbance while keeping the site available for wildlife use. Total: 1944; Big browns: 2, Little browns: 1885, Eastern pipistrelles: 38, Northern long-eareds: 19