Ozark Cavefish National Wildlife Refuge, Underground wildlife refuge in Lawrence County, Missouri
Ozark Cavefish National Wildlife Refuge is an underground preserve in Lawrence County that protects Turnback Cave and its cave systems. The site provides critical habitat for the endangered cavefish species and other creatures adapted to life below the surface.
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service created this refuge in 1991 after the Ozark cavefish received federal threatened status in 1984. The establishment was a direct response to protect this rare underground population from further decline.
Local settlers once viewed these blind fish in their water wells as signs of clean drinking water. This observation shaped how people understood the underground water sources around them.
The refuge has been closed to the public since 2006 to protect its delicate cave environment. You can reach out to the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge office if you want more information about the site.
The Ozark cavefish evolved in complete darkness and lack both eyes and pigment, giving them a pale appearance. This physical adaptation reveals how creatures can perfectly adjust to the most extreme underground conditions.
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