US Forest Service and ARMI in collaboration to bolster the number of endangered Mountain Yellow-legged Frogs in their native range
USGS ARMI biologists have been working with agencies, organizations, and institutions across southern California with the goal of enhancing California’s southern Mountain Yellow-legged Frog populations. Conservation efforts began in the late 1990's when populations were discovered to be significantly declining. Soon after, the frogs were listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). ARMI biologists helped develop a captive breeding and headstarting program for the purpose of rearing and raising offspring to release back into the wild. Local zoos, including the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Santa Ana Zoo, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo, and The Aquarium of the Pacific were eager to help.
This past summer, USGS led a multi-partner group that trekked into the San Gabriel Mountains carrying backpacks full of young frogs to release into their native habitat. Please check out the following miniseries for the full coverage of this endeavor.
US Forest Service - Episode 52: For the Frogs - Reintroduction
Transcript - Download directly (6MB)
US Forest Service staff releasing California Mountain Yellow-legged Frogs into a creek in the San Gabriel Mountains.
Photo by: Adam Backlin