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With leafy lung-feet, to swim is to move, to breathe, to gain nourishment, and to explore one’s world; to be ever in motion.

Have you never seen us before?

Pond view of Bivouac Lake 1987-08-12, #3411c, with fairy shrimp; Lander Ranger District, Shoshone National Forest, Popo Agie Wilderness
Bivouac Lake 1987-08-12, #3411c, Wind River Mountains.

Fairy shrimp (Subphylum Crustacea, Class Branchiopoda, Order Anostraca) live in ponds all over the world. Rather than trying to outswim fish and other predators in the most popular and livable ponds, the order’s survival strategy focuses on water bodies that most predators can’t live in or can’t get to.

We flourish in low-alkalinity alpine waters . . .

Scenic view of
“Coon Lake” South Pond #3 1987-08-10, #3219, Wind River Mountains.
and in briny desert waters.

Scenic view of Rhodes Big Lake 2021-04-07, #09, with Gabbs Valley Range in distance; has fairy shrimp; Stillwater BLM Office and private land
Rhodes Big Lake 2021-04-07, #09, Rhodes Salt Marsh.
We populate big water bodies out in the sagebrush . . .

Scenic view of "Coyote Lake" 1987-05-16, #1609, with Wind River Mountains in distance; has fairy shrimp; Lander BLM Office
“Coyote Lake” 1987-05-16, #1609, Antelope Hills.
and small ones.

Scenic view of Section Marker Pond 1987-06-22, #2424, with Oregon Buttes in distance; has fairy shrimp; Rock Springs BLM Office
Section Marker Pond 1987-06-22, #2424, Antelope Hills.
We hatch in ample ponds on soft, grassy plains as the flowers bloom . . .

Scenic view of Horne's Pond XIV 1988-06-04, #0101; has fairy shrimp; private land
Horne’s Pond XIV 1988-06-04, #0101, Southern Laramie Basin.
and in tiny pools on hard rock with a few patches of lichen.

Scenic view of Little Skunk Granite Rock Pool 1989-06-08, #0221, with Independence Rock in distance; has fairy shrimp; Pathfinder National Wildlife Refuge
Little Skunk Granite Rock Pool 1989-06-08, #0221, Granite Mountains.
We also colonize roadside puddles . . .

Scenic view of West Northumberland Road Pond #5 2019-03-19, #05, with Bunker Hill in distance; has fairy shrimp; Mount Lewis BLM Office
West Northumberland Road Pond #5 2019-03-19, #05, Big Smoky Valley.
and stock-watering ponds, even if they get stinky from cow and horse feces.

Scenic view of Garfield 5890 Saddle Pond 2022-02-17, #06, with Excelsior Mountains in distance and cows; has fairy shrimp; Stillwater BLM Office
Garfield 5890 Saddle Pond 2022-02-17, #06, Garfield Hills.
We take advantage of water that is clear . . .

Pond view of Little Sandy Overlook Pond 1987-08-10, #3125, with fairy shrimp; Pinedale Ranger District, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Bridger Wilderness
Little Sandy Overlook Pond 1987-08-10, #3125, Wind River Mountains.
and of water that is opaque.

Pond view of Beauty Peak East Pond 2021-04-30, #08, with fairy shrimp; Bishop BLM Office, Bodie WSA
Beauty Peak East Pond 2021-04-30, #08, Bodie Hills.
We do fine in warm water . . .

Scenic view of Playa Wire Gate Pond 2022-03-14, #16, with Garfield Hills in distance; has fairy shrimp; Stillwater BLM Office
Playa Wire Gate Pond 2022-03-14, #16, Soda Spring Valley.
as well as in cool water.

Scenic view of Medina Mountain Pond #16 1989-08-19, #1111; has fairy shrimp; Pinedale Ranger District, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Bridger Wilderness
Medina Mountain Pond #16 1989-08-19, #1111, Wind River Mountains.
Even if the water freezes over every night, we just keep on swimming.

Pond view of Stinking Springs Well Pond 2022-02-23, #10c, with fairy shrimp under ice; Stillwater BLM Office
Stinking Springs Well Pond 2022-02-23, #10c, Rawhide Flats.
Sometimes we hatch as a sparse population . . .

Pond view of "North Gap Lake" East Pond 2010-08-25, #080, with fairy shrimp; Brush Creek - Hayden Ranger District, Medicine Bow National Forest
“North Gap Lake” East Pond 2010-08-25, #080, Snowy Range.
and sometimes we get a little bit carried away.

Pond view of "Steamboat Lake" 2nd East Pond 1989-06-07, #0205, with fairy shrimp; Pathfinder National Wildlife Refuge
“Steamboat Lake” 2nd East Pond 1989-06-07, #0205, Granite Mountains.

Although widespread, fairy shrimp may be hard to find as dispersal of their resting eggs is rather haphazard.

A clear, shallow, alpine pond that seems like good habitat may have no fairy shrimp.

Scenic view of Upper South Fork Pine Creek Pond 2019-07-09, #14, with cliffs; lacks fairy shrimp; Tonopah Ranger District, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Alta Toquima Wilderness
Upper South Fork Pine Creek Pond 2019-07-09, #14, Toquima Range.

An isolated lake with cloudy water on a valley floor that appears to have the right conditions may also lack fairy shrimp.

Scenic view of "Adobe Lake" 2018-05-30, #05, with Granite Mountain in distance; lacks fairy shrimp; Bishop BLM Office
“Adobe Lake” 2018-05-30, #05, Adobe Valley.

Then, there is the timing problem.

You may be too late,

Scenic view of Lost in the Trees Pond 2010-08-25, #156; dry; Laramie Ranger District, Medicine Bow National Forest
Lost in the Trees Pond 2010-08-25, #156, Snowy Range.

or you may be too early,

Scenic view of Beauty Peak East Pond 2021-04-02, #01, with Beauty Peak; snow, Bishop BLM Office, Bodie WSA
Beauty Peak East Pond 2021-04-02, #01, Bodie Hills.

or the winter may have been too dry.

Scenic view of "Coyote Lake" 1992-05-07, #0103; dry; Lander BLM Office
“Coyote Lake” 1992-05-07, #0103, Antelope Hills.

Success in fairy shrimping is uncertain but the rewards outweigh the disappointments. Here is my experience, in text and photos, so that you may learn what it is like to pursue the fleeting, fantastical, but very real fairy shrimp.

We hatch in countless water bodies every year. Take a break from your pond and have a look at ours.

Pond view of "Coyote Lake" 1987-05-16, #1612, with fairy shrimp; Lander BLM Office
“Coyote Lake” 1987-05-16, #1612, Antelope Hills.

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