Ozark Cavefish National Wildlife Refuge

Ozark Cavefish National Wildlife Refuge is a 40-acre refuge in southwestern Missouri, about 20 miles west of Springfield, created in 1991 when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acquired the land to protect the endangered Ozark cavefish. Centered on Turnback Cave, the refuge also supports the endangered gray bat. The cave ecosystem links these two protected species, as bat droppings provide an essential nutrient source underground. Because this habitat is especially sensitive and important for conservation, the refuge is closed to the public.

Missouri · United States