Recent Earthquakes Nearly Wiped This Rare Species out for Good

50 Campfires

One of the world’s rarest fish, the Devils Hole pupfish, only lives one place on Earth—Death Valley National Park. Two recent earthquakes in California cut the species’ already-low numbers even lower, threatening to wipe out the pupfish completely. Thankfully, biologists are working to put the species back on the path to recovery.

“During a semiannual survey this spring, biologists from the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the Nevada Department of Wildlife counted only 38 fish in the deep limestone cavern in Death Valley National Park where they live,” NPS wrote in a statement. “In contrast, the official spring count one year earlier recorded 191 fish.”

NPS says two separate earthquakes (December 2024 and February 2025) triggered waves in Devils Hole, which normally offers still waters for its rare inhabitants. The quakes’ waves displaced algae, organic material, and fish eggs from the shallow shelf in the cavern’s entrance, which NPS explains is a critical place for Devils Hole pupfish to find food and spawn.

To help the species make a comeback, biologists stepped in to introduce 19 captive-raised pupfish to the wild population. They are also supplementing the fishes’ diet until the algae can regrow.

“The present [population] size at near-record lows deserves our serious attention, and the actions in the strategic plan, including supplemental feeding and population augmentation, provide the best opportunity for recovery,” said Michael Schwemm, senior fish biologist for USFWS.

Biologists are seeing positive signs that their efforts are working, and they will count the pupfish again this fall.

See footage of the earthquakes in the Devils Hole pupfish habitat here:

And here is footage of the pupfish release from March:

Source: https://outdoors.com/recent-earthquakes-nearly-wiped-this-rare-species-out-for-good/