Sauta Cave National Wildlife Refuge

Alabama National Wildlife Refuges

Welcome to the Sauta Cave National Wildlife Refuge located in northwest Alabama near Decatur.  

Refuge History: Before the cave was the property of Uncle Sam, it was used as a saltpeter mine during the time of the civil war and as a fallout shelter in the 1960's. Thus the cave is not untouched. In 1978, this refuge was established as the Blowing Wind Cave National Wildlife Refuge in order to protect the habitat of the endangered gray bat and Indiana bat. In the summer time, between 200,000 and 300,000 bats make their home in this cave. Other rare plant species including the endangered Price's potato bean make their home inside this refuge. Due to the fragility of this ecosystem, this refuge is not open to the public.