Kurt Lewis Helf, Ph.D.
@hophead57.bsky.social
Cave Ecologist. Views expressed in posts are my own and do not reflect those of my employer. RP ≠ Endorsement He/him/his
Check out our home page, here:
https://www.nps.gov/im/cupn/index.htm
Check out our home page, here:
https://www.nps.gov/im/cupn/index.htm
Most recent NASA image for comparison:
September 14, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Most recent NASA image for comparison:
#InverteFest
There be Monarch butterfly caterpillars (Danaus plexippus) here!
I counted six the other but, despite bagging them for their safety, I found only three today. One is definitely getting ready to pupate!
PLANT MILKWEED
There be Monarch butterfly caterpillars (Danaus plexippus) here!
I counted six the other but, despite bagging them for their safety, I found only three today. One is definitely getting ready to pupate!
PLANT MILKWEED
August 26, 2025 at 12:18 AM
#InverteFest
There be Monarch butterfly caterpillars (Danaus plexippus) here!
I counted six the other but, despite bagging them for their safety, I found only three today. One is definitely getting ready to pupate!
PLANT MILKWEED
There be Monarch butterfly caterpillars (Danaus plexippus) here!
I counted six the other but, despite bagging them for their safety, I found only three today. One is definitely getting ready to pupate!
PLANT MILKWEED
Female Hercules beetle (Dynastes hercules) that was on my neighbor’s deck; they texted me right away!
June 28, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Female Hercules beetle (Dynastes hercules) that was on my neighbor’s deck; they texted me right away!
Bowling Green, KY showed up!
June 15, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Bowling Green, KY showed up!
You never know who (Broad-headed skink (Plestiodon laticeps)) you’ll find cleaning out the garage for a sale! He was released unharmed and with his tail intact!
May 8, 2025 at 7:38 PM
You never know who (Broad-headed skink (Plestiodon laticeps)) you’ll find cleaning out the garage for a sale! He was released unharmed and with his tail intact!
1/n Good turnout at the Nashville Stand Up For Science rally yesterday! The range in ages was 8-80 which was really heartening. Many folks were all about the loss of funding to the NIH. Also a couple of good, effective speakers to make made Randy Olson proud. Some clever signs, too .
March 8, 2025 at 6:34 PM
1/n Good turnout at the Nashville Stand Up For Science rally yesterday! The range in ages was 8-80 which was really heartening. Many folks were all about the loss of funding to the NIH. Also a couple of good, effective speakers to make made Randy Olson proud. Some clever signs, too .
What’s your sign?
February 17, 2025 at 1:07 PM
What’s your sign?
I made Garbure the other night, alas without duck, but I did pass the spoon test. Delicious! The recipe was courtesy of the wonderful cookbook by Dorie Greenspan “around my french table”.
December 24, 2024 at 12:59 PM
I made Garbure the other night, alas without duck, but I did pass the spoon test. Delicious! The recipe was courtesy of the wonderful cookbook by Dorie Greenspan “around my french table”.
Eastern Woodrat (Neotoma floridana) watching our monitoring survey of cave crickets (Hadenoecus subterraneus) at Mammoth Cave National Park.
December 9, 2024 at 11:54 PM
Eastern Woodrat (Neotoma floridana) watching our monitoring survey of cave crickets (Hadenoecus subterraneus) at Mammoth Cave National Park.
Frost flowers outside Great Onyx cave entrance Mammoth Cave National Park.
December 8, 2024 at 6:08 PM
Frost flowers outside Great Onyx cave entrance Mammoth Cave National Park.
It is recognizable by its large, light green, triangular-shaped fronds which arch upwards which droop towards the ground at the tips. It is bipinnate and has waxy looking stipes and round sori. It reproduces and spreads by dispersing spores, but also vegetatively through stolons and rhizomes.
February 26, 2024 at 8:42 PM
It is recognizable by its large, light green, triangular-shaped fronds which arch upwards which droop towards the ground at the tips. It is bipinnate and has waxy looking stipes and round sori. It reproduces and spreads by dispersing spores, but also vegetatively through stolons and rhizomes.
Images from our late September 2023 monitoring survey at Russell Cave National Monument.
All images courtesy of McKenna Vierstra
All images courtesy of McKenna Vierstra
February 9, 2024 at 3:22 AM
Images from our late September 2023 monitoring survey at Russell Cave National Monument.
All images courtesy of McKenna Vierstra
All images courtesy of McKenna Vierstra
11/20/2023 trip to River Styx with Dr. Mark Abolins' class from Middle Tennessee State University to discuss Mammoth Cave National Park (MCNP) history, geology, and cave aquatic biota (CAB) to explain why they transcribed Dr. Bill Pearson's early 90s survey notes for us. Images by Rick Olson.
February 9, 2024 at 3:11 AM
11/20/2023 trip to River Styx with Dr. Mark Abolins' class from Middle Tennessee State University to discuss Mammoth Cave National Park (MCNP) history, geology, and cave aquatic biota (CAB) to explain why they transcribed Dr. Bill Pearson's early 90s survey notes for us. Images by Rick Olson.
Rhadine caudata, typically a surface dweller, sometimes found in caves. This individual was seen in Cumberland Gap National Historical Park during a bat monitoring trip; possibly a new park record. Photos by Kacey Russo.
February 9, 2024 at 2:35 AM
Rhadine caudata, typically a surface dweller, sometimes found in caves. This individual was seen in Cumberland Gap National Historical Park during a bat monitoring trip; possibly a new park record. Photos by Kacey Russo.
Kurt Helf
I’m a cave ecologist with the Cumberland Piedmont Network stationed at Mammoth Cave National Park.
I’m a cave ecologist with the Cumberland Piedmont Network stationed at Mammoth Cave National Park.
February 9, 2024 at 2:16 AM
Kurt Helf
I’m a cave ecologist with the Cumberland Piedmont Network stationed at Mammoth Cave National Park.
I’m a cave ecologist with the Cumberland Piedmont Network stationed at Mammoth Cave National Park.
View from the office on 30 January:
Cumberland Piedmont Network (CUPN) bat monitoring at Mammoth Cave National Park with Mammoth Cave and US Fish and Wildlife, and KY Fish and Wildlife personnel assistance.
All images courtesy of Kacey Russo.
Cumberland Piedmont Network (CUPN) bat monitoring at Mammoth Cave National Park with Mammoth Cave and US Fish and Wildlife, and KY Fish and Wildlife personnel assistance.
All images courtesy of Kacey Russo.
February 9, 2024 at 1:55 AM
View from the office on 30 January:
Cumberland Piedmont Network (CUPN) bat monitoring at Mammoth Cave National Park with Mammoth Cave and US Fish and Wildlife, and KY Fish and Wildlife personnel assistance.
All images courtesy of Kacey Russo.
Cumberland Piedmont Network (CUPN) bat monitoring at Mammoth Cave National Park with Mammoth Cave and US Fish and Wildlife, and KY Fish and Wildlife personnel assistance.
All images courtesy of Kacey Russo.