Monday, September 16, 2019 Ash Meadows: Devil's Hole

This gate prevents non-authorized vehicles from driving up to Devil's Hole. The walk from this gate to Devil's Hole is about a block. That black patch near the base of the mountain is the fence around Devil's Hole.

Over the years, the National Park Service has tried to balance the needs of the endangered pupfish with the needs of people and many different fencing solutions have been tried.

Several years ago, before this particular fence was constructed, three young men drove up to Devil's Hole in an ATV. They rammed the fence with their ATV until the fence broke, used their rifles to shoot out the surveillance cameras and lights, stripped off their clothes, ran down the cliff and jumped into the water killing several fish and destroying an unknown number of pupfish eggs.  These young men were caught and prosecuted, but as a result of their actions, the fences and security systems were strengthened and improved.

These signs are near the entrance to Devil's Hole.

These people are trying to see the pupfish through their binoculars.

That stairway leads to the water in Devil's Hole. Only authorized people are allowed to go down there. Lucky for me, I got to participate in the "Volunteer Field trip to Devil's Hole." 

Staff and volunteers descend the staircase to Devil's Hole. We were told to wear clean clothes, and shoes, so that we would not bring in germs that might cause the pupfish to get sick. The greenish-blackish rectangularish shape is the surface of the water in Devil's Hole.

After descending the stairs, we had to scamper down some boulders to get closer to the water in Devil's Hole. On the left is Jeff, a National Park Service Ranger, who was helping lead the tour.  You can see the fence where the people with binoculars were standing at the top of the photograph.

There is algae growing on the surface of the water in Devil's Hole. The pupfish like the algae. There are also a variety of scientific instruments hanging in the water.

Interestingly there are bats that live in the rock crevices above Devil's Hole as well as a pair of barn owls that nested and reared their young here. We found several owl pellets that contained pack rat skulls, so we know that pack rats live here also. 

In addition to the bats, owls, and pack rats that live in the crevices above Devil's Hole are bees. You can see their hive in the rock crevice. (It's dark brown and fuzzy.)

This is a plant we try to avoid because it causes a very itchy rash when touched. It also lives in the crevices of Devil's Hole.

Because it is so difficult for the public to see pupfish in Devil's Hole, this sign explains where similar fish can be seen at Ash Meadow National Wildlife Refuge.

This is King's Spring at Point of Rocks. We visited it after we went to Devil's Hole because endangered pupfish live in the spring. 

That little bluish colored fish near the upper-central part of this photograph is the endangered pupfish. The males are bluish while they are breeding. The females are yellowish-green. The fish are between one and two inches long.

Dragonflies and damselflies can be found around the springs too!

As this map shows, the forces that created Devil's Hole, and its pupfish, are common and probably related. Therefore there are many different kinds of pupfish, some widespread, some endangered, and some extinct.