Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge

 birdwatching area, hunting ground, wildlife sanctuary, wildlife protection/conservation

The refuge protects the only known population of the endangered Alabama Cavefish, and just nine specimens are known to exist in scientific collections. Based on the apparent distribution, the number of specimens collected, and the number of individuals observed, this small fish appears to be the rarest of American Cavefish and one of the rarest of all freshwater fish. Two species of blind crayfish (Procambarus pecki and Cambarus jonesi) also inhabit Key Cave. Additionally, the cave is used by up to 40,000 endangered gray bats. The 1060 acre site is also popular with birders and observers of many different types of wildlife. Key Cave is not open to the public, but nearby viewing platforms facilitate the viewing of the bats as they depart the cave each evening during the summer.