Did you know – 80% of Kentucky’s 200+ native fishes include darters, minnows, suckers, small sunfishes, and other groups that are rarely encountered by most people?
These fish may be easy to overlook, but they serve important roles in the rivers and streams they inhabit, signaling water quality and overall health and integrity of aquatic ecosystems.
Kentucky’s State Wildlife Action Plan lists over 70 fish species as species of greatest conservation need because they’re known to be rare or have experienced recent population declines. Research, survey, and monitoring efforts, as well as habitat restoration projects, are currently underway to prevent further imperilment of these important species.
You can support vulnerable wildlife throughout the commonwealth when you become a Kentucky Wild member! Learn more and join here today: https://bit.ly/3q7pt0J
Buck darter photo by Matt Thomas
(posted on the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Facebook Page)
