KENTUCKY (FOX 56) — Black bears have been flocking back to the Bluegrass. Even an alligator or two has been seen in Kentucky.
There’s no shortage of wildlife across Kentucky’s vast topography.
What are some of the more exotic and downright unusual creatures that some might come across while exploring the wild parts of Kentucky?
Kentucky cave shrimp
These precarious crustaceans are federally endangered, fully cave-adapted freshwater creatures found exclusively in or near Mammoth Cave National Park.
The National Park Service confirmed that these eyeless shrimp use two pairs of antennules to taste, touch, and smell their food. Due to their lack of pigmentation, the transparent cave swimmers are incredibly hard to spot.
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The shrimp was first described in 1901 by W.P. Hay and can be found in ten groundwater basins connected to the caves.
Kentucky cave shrimp live for around 10-15 years and grow to be roughly 1.25 inches long, making them transparent and tiny.
NPS officials noted that, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the shrimp were listed as endangered after cave biologists were unable to find them in cave passages.
Wind the clocks forward to the 2020s, and officials said shrimp have been found in passages again, which suggests their numbers are increasing.
The hope is that some day, the Kentucky Cave Shrimp will no longer be in danger of becoming extinct.
Kentucky Red-Backed Vole
Another unusual critter found only in a select part of the state, the Kentucky Red-Backed Vole is widely considered one of Kentucky’s species of greatest conservation need, according to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.
Tucked away in parts of eastern Kentucky, the red-backed vole is the smallest of the four species of voles. It grows to around 3 to 4 inches long and weighs around 36 grams.
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According to the University of Kentucky, the vole does not establish an underground burrow system, unlike its fellow vole counterparts.
Cave salamander
The vibrant orange amphibians are not exclusively found in Kentucky. However, they are a common sight in karst areas like Mammoth Cave in central Kentucky.
These troglophiles typically complete their life cycles in cave-like conditions. Despite being among the largest of their species, cave salamanders typically only grow to lengths between 4 and 7 inches.
Inside Mammoth Cave park, cave salamanders can typically be found clinging to rocky walls but can also be found near surface water or under moist rocks and logs.
Other exotic animals found in Kentucky include:
Whether wandering deep into a cave or trekking through the hills, Kentucky’s wild side is full of surprises—some hiding in plain sight, and others just beneath the surface.
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