Captive-Bred Fish Bolster Critically Endangered Devils Hole Pupfish After Earthquake Devastation
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A series of winter earthquakes destroyed the primary food source for the critically endangered Devils Hole pupfish, causing the wild population to plummet by 90% to just 20 fish. In response, wildlife managers have released dozens of captive-bred fish from a backup population, helping to raise the count to 77 fish by spring 2025. The team managing the recovery is now developing a genetics management plan for the species.
Facts First
- Earthquakes in late 2024 and early 2025 caused mini-tsunamis in Devils Hole, sweeping away the algae that is the primary food source for the pupfish.
- The wild population crashed from 212 fish to 20 by late February 2025, a 90% decline, due to the loss of food during the winter when algae could not regrow.
- Wildlife managers released approximately 70 captive-bred fish from the Ash Meadows Fish Conservation Facility into Devils Hole to bolster the population.
- By spring 2025, the population in Devils Hole had recovered to 77 fish following the releases.
- A multi-agency Incident Command Team is developing a genetics management plan for the species in the wake of the emergency releases.
What Happened
Seismic events in December 2024 and February 2025 triggered mini-tsunamis in Devils Hole, a single deep pool in Death Valley National Park that is home to the critically endangered Devils Hole pupfish. The tsunamis swept away sediment and algae, which is the species' primary food source. Because the earthquakes occurred in winter when there was no direct sunlight, the algae could not regrow. This caused the wild pupfish population to drop by 90 percent, from 212 fish in the fall of 2024 to just 20 fish by late February 2025.
In response, the Devils Hole pupfish Incident Command Team authorized the release of captive-bred fish. Wildlife managers first released 19 fish, followed by approximately 50 more from the Ash Meadows Fish Conservation Facility, a USFWS-managed refuge with a 100,000-gallon tank designed to replicate Devils Hole. By the spring of 2025, biologists counted 77 fish in Devils Hole.
Why this Matters to You
This event highlights the fragility of unique ecosystems and the complex, urgent work required to preserve biodiversity. Your tax dollars support the agencies involved in this rescue effort, which proceeded despite uncertainty regarding federal layoffs and a potential government shutdown. The success of such conservation programs can be a measure of our collective stewardship of the natural world, and the loss of a species like the Devils Hole pupfish would represent an irreversible diminishment of global biodiversity.
What's Next
The Devils Hole pupfish Incident Command Team is currently developing a genetics management plan. This plan will likely be crucial for managing the genetic health of the population following the emergency releases, for which genetic samples via fin clips were not taken from the first batch of captive-raised fish due to the urgency of the situation. The team's ongoing management will be essential to monitor the population's recovery and ensure the long-term survival of this species in its unique habitat.