40: Plenty of Fish pt.1: Devil in the Details

Grant tells Maia about the rarest fish in the world, found in the strangest of places. An episode about the Devil’s Hole Pupfish and Devils Hole, located in Death Valley National Park. We learn more about Ash Meadow, the legal rights of a tiny fish, and the many strange occurrences that have been documented at Devil’s Hole. A podcast episode that will leave you enchanted with the oddity of fish in the desert.

Strap in as Grant and Maia shift gears from hot tub hijinks and nostalgic selfies to explore the enigmatic Devil’s Hole in Death Valley, a secluded cave harboring the endangered Devil’s Hole pupfish. With wild conservation showdowns, unexpected legal dramas, and a touch of irreverent humor, this episode is your invitation to uncover nature’s most astonishing secrets. Join us as we peel back the layers of a hidden ecosystem whose delicate balance has sparked multimillion-dollar court battles and fierce debates among local ranchers and environmentalists. Discover how these tiny survivors have defied extinction in a world where every detail counts, and hear jaw-dropping accounts of daring divers and unforeseen tragedies deep beneath the desert. From mind-blowing scientific insights to hilariously relatable campus capers, prepare for a journey that challenges what you thought you knew about nature, evolution, and the strange intersections of our modern world.

Chapters/Key takeaways to listen for

[0:00:00] Catch-Up
[0:02:56] Maia's Leadership Summit: Discusses her anxiety about the speech and posting it on YouTube
[0:04:37] Motivational Speech to Students: The concept of "day two" motivation challenges and Dr. Brene Brown's insights to inspire students
[0:12:59] Valentine's Day Reflections: Discussing the holiday, personal experiences, and relationship milestones
[0:28:32] Devil's Hole Pupfish: Exploration of the world's rarest fish and its unique ecosystem
[0:45:05] Incident at Devil's Hole in 1965: Tragic diving accident with four young men in the mysterious cave
[0:56:45] Charles Manson's Connection to Devil's Hole: Manson's obsession with the cave as a potential underground sanctuary
[1:01:44] Protection and Incidents at Devil's Hole: Efforts to protect the rare pupfish from human interference
[1:06:18] Seismic Activity and Unknown Depths: Mysterious cave system that responds to distant earthquakes
[1:16:36] Challenges and Protective Measures for the Fish: Struggles to maintain the pupfish population and preserve their habitat
[1:20:02] Attempts to Breed the Fish in Captivity: Multiple failed efforts to create sustainable populations outside Devil's Hole
[1:28:41] Efforts to Save the Fish and Legal Challenges: Legal battles and massive investments to protect the endangered species
[1:39:17] Exploration of the Cave System and Final Thoughts: Speculating about the unexplored depths and conservation importance

Photos/Videos Referenced:

*National Park Service aquatic ecologist Kevin Wilson going down to Devil's Hold - courtesy of Brian ven der Brug/LA Times*

Pupfish - courtesy of the US Fish and Wildlife Service	Fish Biologists in SCUBA gear for underwater pupfish counts - courtesy of USFWS/Olin Feuerbacher via NPS
Mexico earthquake caused waves at California's Death Valley - courtesy of BNO News via YouTube	Devil's Hole Vandalism on April 30, 2016 - courtesy of DeathValleyNP via YouTube

*Illustration of Devil's Hole based on Jim Houtz's original map rendering - courtesy of Jim Houtz's collection via PBS*

Quotes:

"Maybe the rarest fish in the world lives on the surface because we're not supposed to explore the cavern." – Grant Thomas
"There's something magical in knowing corners of the planet remain magical." – Grant Thomas
"Inputs equals outputs. What you get is gonna be a direct correlation to what you put in today." – Grant Thomas
"There's a whole microbiome that literally does not exist on our planet because it's never been exposed to sunlight." – Maia Warner

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