Devils Hole Pupfish Drop from 191 to 38 After Two Quakes

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The entire wild population of Devils Hole pupfish plummeted to just 38 fish following two devastating earthquakes that rocked their Death Valley habitat.

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These rare 2-inch creatures, known for their puppy-like swimming movements, exist naturally only in a single geothermal pool connected to an unmapped underground lake.

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Scientists have monitored these unique fish since the 1970s, watching their numbers fluctuate from a record low of 35 in 2013 to a promising 25-year high of 191 in 2024.

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December's Humboldt County earthquake sent shockwaves 500 miles to the pupfish cave, causing water to splash violently and destroy vulnerable eggs and larvae.

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A second earthquake in February 2025 further damaged the fragile ecosystem, alarming scientists who observed fewer fish with each monitoring visit.

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Biologists transferred 19 pupfish from a backup conservation facility to bolster the dwindling wild population.

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Even with these additional fish, the current count sits at just 38 individuals—only three fish above the species' all-time recorded low.

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Despite the concerning numbers, scientists remain cautiously optimistic as the fish are "doing a lot of spawning" during the spring breeding season.

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The next official count of this endangered species won't happen until fall 2025, leaving conservationists hopeful that habitat improvements will help their recovery.

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