Endangered Devils Hole pupfish population reaches 25-year high
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — There is some promising news about the population of one of the world’s rarest fishes that live in a deep water-filled cavern known as Devils Hole in Nye County, Nevada.
During the annual spring observation, scientists reported counting 191 Devils Hole pupfish which is the most observed in 25 years. The rare and critically endangered fish live in the smallest habitat of any vertebrate species on the planet, according to the Death Valley National Park Service news release.
In the early 1990s, scientists counted more than 200 fish each spring but in the following decades, the population began dropping off, hitting an all-time low of 35 fish in 2013.
Scientists were initially concerned when Hurricane Hilary impacted Devils Hole in 2023 however the storm mostly benefited the pupfish ecosystem by adding nutrients that washed off the surrounding land surface in a fine layer of clay and silt.
A return to higher numbers of pupfish this time of year could signal important changes in the ecosystem. Kevin Wilson, Aquatic Ecologist for Death Valley National Park, states “Recent high spring and fall counts show the importance of maintaining long-term data as we work to find out what’s changed.”
For the past 20 years, the population has been around 90 fish during each annual count.
Brandon Senger, Supervising Fisheries Biologist for the Nevada Department of Wildlife, has been conducting SCUBA-counts at Devils Hole since 2014 and noted, “It was really encouraging to see such a large number of young fish during these spring dives. Conditions within Devils Hole looked healthy, so we have hopes of high recruitment over the coming months that will lead to a large population in the fall.”
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
