Devils Hole Pupfish Count Rises to 137

National Park Service survey shows the endangered population nearly doubling from spring 2026 levels.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in National Parks

Still turquoise desert pool set in pale limestone under clear morning light, with dry Nevada scrub and distant mountains beyond. — Endangered Devils Hole pupfish numbered 137 in a National Park Service survey on Oct. 10, nearly double the 77 counted in spring 2026. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

The National Park Service counted 137 endangered Devils Hole pupfish during an Oct. 10 population survey. The count is nearly double the 77 fish observed in spring 2026 and more than double the 69 fish recorded in fall 2025.

Why it matters

The Devils Hole pupfish lives only in one deep, water-filled cavern within Death Valley National Park, so its population trends carry outsized weight for the species' survival. The rebound follows earthquake-driven declines and captive-raised releases, offering a measurable test of recovery efforts for a species found nowhere else.

The population has been tracked by these survey methods since 1972, with the October count of 137 more than double the 69 fish recorded in fall 2025. Biologists believe most of the observed fish hatched and grew within Devils Hole, though the source does not quantify the captive-released contribution.

The players

National Park Service

The federal agency that manages Death Valley National Park and conducted the October population survey with its partners.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The federal agency that co-conducted the survey and has monitored the Devils Hole pupfish population alongside the National Park Service since 1972.

The details

Survey teams counted fish in the cavern's depths and along the shallow limestone shelf where they feed and spawn. Two earthquakes in 2025 disrupted the habitat, and earthquakes generate waves inside Devils Hole that dislodge algae and other food sources from the shelf, while conservation teams provided supplemental feeding while algae recovered.

Since 1972: Biologists began monitoring the pupfish population using these survey methods.
2025: Two earthquakes disrupted habitat and contributed to population declines.
March 2025 to February 2026: Scientists released 72 captive-raised pupfish into Devils Hole.
Oct. 9, 2026: An earthquake in Panama caused initial stress signs in the fish.
Oct. 10, 2026: The National Park Service counted 137 pupfish in the survey.

Big Picture

The Devils Hole pupfish is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, and the October count of 137 fish marks a recovery outcome measured against the species' decline following 2025 earthquakes. The rebound is tracked through the same survey methods the two federal agencies have used since 1972.

Visitors to Death Valley National Park can view the Devils Hole habitat, but the cavern's sensitive ecosystem means access depends on conservation rules set by park managers. Travelers planning a trip should check current park guidance before visiting to avoid disturbing the habitat.

The takeaway

The Devils Hole pupfish rebound shows that a species confined to a single cavern can recover when monitoring and supplemental support are sustained over time. Readers interested in wildlife conservation can follow how federal survey data shapes recovery decisions.