10 Weird Facts About Kentucky Cave Shrimp

5th Grade Field Trips in Kentucky

Back when I was in elementary school, we looked forward to our 5th-grade year. Not only did we “rule the school,” but the field trips were out of this world! My teachers were into horses, so we visited the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY (when you live in Kentucky, it’s basically mandatory). We also went spelunking at Mammoth Cave! Okay, so it wasn’t really spelunking, but we did go down into the cave system on a guided tour, and it was really cool.

Little did I know what was lurking in those chilly underground pools.

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The Endangered Animal Only Found in KY's Cave System

One thing they probably mentioned on the tour (that I totally forgot) is that there’s a tiny creature you can only find in Mammoth Cave. Now, if you’re picturing garlic butter and fresh lemon wedges, don’t. The Kentucky Cave Shrimp is tiny, nearly colorless, and super hard to spot, but it’s down there!

And according to a post from Mammoth Cave, the Kentucky Cave Shrimp was named the 2025 USA Cave Animal of the Year! What an honor!

This shrimp might be tiny, but she is mighty. The Kentucky cave shrimp is a fully cave-adapted crustacean that resides exclusively in the Mammoth Cave system. Join us in celebrating these remarkable little survivors who, along with the other 8 documented species of cave shrimp, are the USA Cave Animal of the Year for 2025!
Once feared extinct, these resilient creatures made a remarkable comeback after efforts to improve local water quality beginning in the 1970s. Today, consistent findings in monitored passages suggest a larger population than in the past! As a federally protected species, the Kentucky cave shrimp serves as a vital indicator of ecosystem health, reminding us of the importance of conservation efforts.

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I was curious to learn more, so I clicked the link, and I have to say, the Kentucky Cave Shrimp is a pretty fascinating little creature. Here’s what I found out…

10 Weird Facts about the Kentucky Cave Shrimp

One of the coolest, and most mysterious, creatures in Mammoth Cave is the Kentucky cave shrimp. It’s nearly colorless, super hard to spot, and only found in this cave system. Recently, it got a pretty big honor: it was named the 2025 USA Cave Animal of the Year, shining a spotlight on just how important it is to the cave’s ecosystem. At one point, scientists thought it might be extinct, but thanks to conservation efforts, this tiny survivor has made an incredible comeback.

Gallery Credit: Ashley S.

READ MORE: Kentucky Content

Be sure to plan your Mammoth Cave tour and be on the lookout for these tiny shrimps.

See Inside the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY

This summer, we visited the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, and we had an absolute blast. The world's only "Equine Theme Park" you can enjoy a horse-drawn trolley ride, meet world-champion horses, see horses "dance," and learn about all the ways horses have enriched the human experience throughout time. Here's a sneak peek in the park. Visit kyhorsepark.com for more info!

Gallery Credit: ASHLEY SOLLARS

10 Kind of Disgusting Facts About Turkey Vultures

A long misunderstood bird, turkey vultures are kind of disgusting but are absolutely necessary to our ecosystem and life here on earth.

Gallery Credit: Ashley Sollars

Source: The Only Place on Earth this Endangered Species is Found is in a Kentucky Cave

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