Many of the most beautiful national parks in the US are always busy with visitors. Beyond the popular areas, some national parks also have some great hidden spots to explore. Many of these hidden spots are wonderful for breathtaking hikes and seeing unobstructed views of the night sky; plus, some are part of national parks that are incredible for wildlife-watching.
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When it comes to wildlife, it is in one of the newest national parks in the US that something remarkable can be seen; one of Earth's rarest animals can now be found in Death Valley National Park, something that a decade ago would not have been thought possible.
When it comes to things to do in Death Valley National Park, taking in views of pupfish may not be at the top of the list, but it should be. This is because this tiny fish, located in a remote part of the national park, is on the endangered species list.
While its population has increased over the years, it is still not stable. As such, it may just be a matter of time before this frolicking fish that cannot be found anywhere else on the planet may cease to exist.
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One Of Earth's Rarest Animals, The Pupfish, Can Be Found In Death Valley
There are several species of pupfish in Death Valley National Park, with the Devils Hole pupfish being on the endangered species list
Devils Hole pupfish
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There are several types of pupfish that can be found in Death Valley National Park. However, one that is on the endangered species list is the Devils Hole pupfish, a type of pupfish that has not been in contact with the other fish in the national park for thousands of years.
The pupfish got its name because the fish frolic in the water of the cavern like little puppies. They are playful and dart from one area of Devils Hole to the other, chasing one another around and even spatting with each other from time to time. The pupfish are truly entertaining to watch in their natural environment.
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Just how the Devils Hole pupfish wound up in the cavern is still a mystery. However, what is known is that the pupfish only live in the upper portion of the cavern. They do not travel to the depths of Devils Hole, which many people have never seen. This is where the pupfish mate and eat, making the upper portion of Devils Hole ecologically very important for the fish.
Unfortunately, even with keeping visitors out of Devils Hole, the population of pupfish in the cavern has never been high. Because of this, the fish became the first animal on the endangered species list in 1967. It is a list that the pupfish have remained on ever since.
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Where Pupfish Are Found In Death Valley National Park
Pupfish are found in Devils Hole in the Ash Meadows area of Death Valley National Park
Devils Hole pupfish
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The endangered Pupfish are located in the Ash Meadows area of Death Valley National Park at Devils Hole. Devils Hole was not part of the national park initially. It was not until 1952 that Devils Hole and the fish who lived there were added as part of Death Valley National Park.
The pupfish have been in the national park for over 10,000 to 20,000 years. Some believe that these pupfish have remained separated from other pupfish in Death Valley for 10,000 of those years. However, more recent research points to the fact that the separation may have been as early as 1,000 years ago. As such, the Devils Hole pupfish may have more in common with other pupfish than once believed.
The Devils Hole pupfish live in a water-filled cavern that is at least 500 feet deep, as a bottom has never been found. Despite how deep the cavern is, the pupfish prefer to eat and mate at a much more shallow spot. This spot is on a ledge just before the depths of the cavern begin.
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What is interesting about the ledge is that it cannot be replicated to pupfish satisfaction. This was proven after an artificial ledge was built to try and increase the number of pupfish eggs laid as well as putting pupfish in captivity to try and get them to mate. The only place where eggs were laid was on the natural ledge.
The water in Devils Hole comes from groundwater that flows from the Spring Mountains. The water flows into the cavern via springs and is heated to 92F where the fish frolic and play.
While the area where the pupfish are located is fenced off, there is an observation platform that is a short out-and-back hike of just over a half mile. From here, it is possible to see the pupfish if they are swimming about. But with so few of them left in Devils Hole, the pupfish may prove to be difficult to see.
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It is recommended to bring binoculars if trying to see the Devils Hole pupfish from the platform. Because they are small, and their numbers are small, the pupfish may be difficult to spot with the naked eye.
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How Researchers Are Working To Protect The Pupfish In Death Valley National Park
Researchers have gated off the area around Devils Hole to keep visitors out and protect the pupfish from harm
Devils Hole pupfish
The Devils Hole pupfish have not had an easy go when it comes to their survival. To begin with, the farmers in the Death Valley area decided in the 1960s to build dams so they could siphon underground water for their animals and crops. By diverting the underground water, the ledge where the fish like to eat and spawn was no longer accessible because of the water level drop. As such, the population of fish began to decline.
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It was not until the Supreme Court stepped in and stopped the groundwater from being directed away from Devils Hole that the fish were eventually able to access their precious ledge again. However, a lot of damage had been done with regard to how many pupfish were left remaining in the cavern.
Additionally, visitors to Death Valley National Park would seek out Devils Hole to see the fish or even go swimming. The damage done, according to SF Gate, by stepping on the ledge was devastating, with eggs being smashed and larvae being killed.
As such, over the years, more protection has been put in place to keep visitors to the national park out of Devils Hole. From locked gates to high fences, and even cameras, everything possible is being done to keep the Devils Hole pupfish safe.
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At one point in 2013, there were only 35 pupfish left in the cavern. In 2022, the number of pupfish living in Devils Hole was counted to be 175 fish. In Spring 2024, per the publication, that number had increased to 191 fish. This is more than Devils Hole has seen in nearly three decades.
With the cavern being healthy and so many fish spawning, the hope is that, when the next count is taken later this year, even more fish will be found in Devils Hole, hopefully helping to move the pupfish in the direction of coming off the endangered species list in the near future.
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