23-2-904. Disturbance of cave life unlawful. A person may not purposely or knowingly remove, kill, harm, or otherwise interfere with cave life, except for health or safety reasons or when the act is a minimal disturbance or for removal of organisms for recognized scientific inquiry. Gates at the entrance or at any point within a cave must be of open construction to allow unimpeded passage of air, insects, bats, and other cave life.

Terms Used In Montana Code 23-2-904

  • Cave: means any geologically formed void or cavity beneath the surface of the earth or within a cliff or ledge, including but not limited to natural subsurface water and drainage systems, whether or not a natural entrance is present. See Montana Code 23-2-902
  • Cave life: means any life form that occurs in, uses, visits, or inhabits a cave. See Montana Code 23-2-902
  • Knowingly: means only a knowledge that the facts exist which bring the act or omission within the provisions of this code. See Montana Code 1-1-204
  • Person: means an individual, partnership, firm, association, trust, corporation, or other legal entity. See Montana Code 23-2-902