Shrimp In Joshua Tree? Allow Us To Explain

A tiny 22-legged crustacean that swims upside down, flapping its legs front to back, has become the star at Joshua Tree National Park following the heavy rains that came with Tropical Storm Hilary.

The cute little fairy shrimp emerged after long dormant eggs were activated by the recent storm water in the park’s Barker Dam reservoir, prompting rangers to post about it on social media.

“Last month, tropical storm Hilary dropped 1-4 inches of rain on different parts of the park. Before the storm, the Barker Dam reservoir was bone dry,” they said in the post. “After the storm, it was filled with water, fairy shrimp, tadpoles, and aquatic insects.”

Fairy shrimp were discovered at Joshua Tree National Park after Tropical Storm Hilary.

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Sarah Jane Pepper

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National Park Service

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Fairy shrimp eggs can lie dormant for years in the soil of dry pools and potholes, the rangers added. Once they fill with water and the right conditions occur, the shrimp can hatch, grow and mature, depositing more eggs before conditions turn dry again.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife has designated the tiny crustaceans, primarily found in California, as a threatened species for various reasons, including climate change, drought and the use of pesticides.

Hilary walloped nearby Coachella Valley bringing more than half a year’s worth of rain in just one day, resulting in road closures and significant flooding. The storm dropped over 2 inches of rain on Joshua Tree, which is the equivalent of an entire year's rainfall for the park.