Feds Intervene for Endangered Wyoming Toad

Environmental News Network ^ | 6/22/2005 | Associated Press

[GreenFreeper]

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to reintroduce several hundred more Wyoming toad tadpoles in Albany County.

The Wyoming toad is the only toad in the Laramie Basin and the basin is the toad's only home. The toad was listed as endangered in 1984 and thought to have gone extinct in 1987, although toads were later found at Mortenson Lake southwest of Laramie.

Thousands of toads have since been bred in captivity and released, with mixed results.

The latest release is planned on private land near Centennial and the Mortenson Lake National Wildlife Refuge. It's part of a "safe harbor" agreement between the Fish and Wildlife Service and the owner of the land, a nonprofit group called the Buford Foundation.

The foundation preserves land and buses in children from urban areas so they can experience nature in Wyoming, according to Chuck Davis, endangered species coordinator for the Fish and Wildlife Service regional office in Denver.

"One of the best things we can do is try to establish another population, because clearly they are not doing well at Mortenson Lake," Davis said.

It is the first safe harbor agreement in the Fish and Wildlife Service's eight-state Mountain-Prairie Region. "Hopefully it will catch on," agency spokeswoman Sharon Rose said.

Such agreements allow past uses of land to continue. In this case, cattle grazing will be allowed to continue.

Davis said the agreement may be critical for the species' survival.

[GreenFreeper]

Nice example of stewardship from a private landowner!!!

[GreenFreeper]

Eco-ping

Pretty decieving title, huh?

[Gardener]

Thanks for the ping. Good story!

[stylecouncilor]

[GreenFreeper]

A few pics of the handsome Bufo baxteri

[skinkinthegrass]

*Croak!* :D

[Graycliff]

Looks just like the ones in my garden, and thats West TX

[Sacajaweau]

Since we're all related...thanks to Darwin, is there even such a thing as extinction.

[popdonnelly]

That's one good looking toad. I could use a few to keep down the mosquitoes.

[TalonDJ]

And should we be preserving species that just can't hack natural selection?

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Maybe the feds should do a recount at the Green River Lakes. When I was there, I saw those little toads everywhere.

[GreenFreeper]

Eco-ping!

[GreenFreeper]

ooops...repeat. I appologize!

[Bear_Slayer]

Since we're all related...thanks to Darwin, is there even such a thing as extinction.

And if it can't survive or adapt on its own against humanity, in a brutal darwinian world, should we really be propping it up?

[editor-surveyor]

"Looks just like the ones in my garden, and thats West TX"

And you can add California to the list too. A toad is a toad. If they applied the same logic they use for toads and salamanders to kittens, they would be calling every death an extinction.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!

[headsonpikes]

... they would be calling every death an extinction.

'No man is an island' placemarker.

;^)

[LIConFem]

Whew! 'Bout damn'd time, too!

;o)

[GreenFreeper]

A toad is a toad. If they applied the same logic they use for toads and salamanders to kittens, they would be calling every death an extinction.

I tend to agree, classification and systematics really need to be reevaluated. What a species is and isn't has now become more of a political matter than a scientific one. Then again I like to see variety, so I appreciate the many types of toads and salamanders.

[cogitator]

etc. For more: Welcome to the Toad Gallery