Traveling Through Nebraska: The Wyoming Toad's Plight
The Wyoming toad, also known as Anaxyrus baxteri, is a critically endangered amphibian species that once inhabited areas of Wyoming, particularly the Laramie Basin, but can now be found in parts of Nebraska, specifically the Mortenson National Wildlife Refuge near the city of Wallace. The Wyoming toad's population dramatically declined in the latter half of the 20th century, primarily due to habitat loss and the introduction of non-native fish and bullfrogs.
Originally discovered in the 1950s by herpetologist George Baxter in the sandy wetlands and shallow water areas surrounding alkaline lakes near Laramie, Wyoming, the Wyoming toad's population rapidly declined over the following decades. In 1984, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Wyoming toad as an endangered species. Conservation efforts underway include captive breeding programs, habitat restoration and protection, and biological research to identify the causes of the decline in the species' population.
One successful example of conservation efforts is the Laramie Basin Grassland Ecology Research Program at the University of Wyoming-Laramie, lead by researcher and herpetologist Brady Mattsson. Here, researchers aim to develop strategies for species recovery by examining toad ecology and dynamics, predation risks associated with aquatic environments, as well as breeding cycles.
An estimated 50 to 60 wild Wyoming toads can currently be found. Conservation efforts have seen limited success, with reintroductions and conservation programs successfully led by joint collaborations between the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, local municipalities and conservation efforts.
Key drivers behind local reintroduction efforts for the Wyoming toad include specific sites with optimal toad habitats and good environmental quality. Specific examples of successful reintroduction efforts include those conducted at Little Sandy Lake, Poison Lake, and Soda Lakes, known for shallow waters, rich vegetation, and absence of introduced predators like fish and the non-native bullfrog species.
Despite the challenging environmental circumstances and complex and largely still-undiagnosed breeding patterns, toad populations have bounced back, with total population counts for captive and wild populations near or exceeding low previous estimates.
Amid these serious undertones, unique opportunity emerges for outdoor enthusiasts and researchers interested in species revitalization in these now relatively sparse toad populations in central areas of the American West within Nebraska.
One particular venue fostering amphibian education as well scientific scholarship is the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. From here, it's easy for readers to plan trips to observe wildlife such as these protected and cherished amphibian populations.
Originally discovered in the 1950s by herpetologist George Baxter in the sandy wetlands and shallow water areas surrounding alkaline lakes near Laramie, Wyoming, the Wyoming toad's population rapidly declined over the following decades. In 1984, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Wyoming toad as an endangered species. Conservation efforts underway include captive breeding programs, habitat restoration and protection, and biological research to identify the causes of the decline in the species' population.
One successful example of conservation efforts is the Laramie Basin Grassland Ecology Research Program at the University of Wyoming-Laramie, lead by researcher and herpetologist Brady Mattsson. Here, researchers aim to develop strategies for species recovery by examining toad ecology and dynamics, predation risks associated with aquatic environments, as well as breeding cycles.
An estimated 50 to 60 wild Wyoming toads can currently be found. Conservation efforts have seen limited success, with reintroductions and conservation programs successfully led by joint collaborations between the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, local municipalities and conservation efforts.
Key drivers behind local reintroduction efforts for the Wyoming toad include specific sites with optimal toad habitats and good environmental quality. Specific examples of successful reintroduction efforts include those conducted at Little Sandy Lake, Poison Lake, and Soda Lakes, known for shallow waters, rich vegetation, and absence of introduced predators like fish and the non-native bullfrog species.
Despite the challenging environmental circumstances and complex and largely still-undiagnosed breeding patterns, toad populations have bounced back, with total population counts for captive and wild populations near or exceeding low previous estimates.
Amid these serious undertones, unique opportunity emerges for outdoor enthusiasts and researchers interested in species revitalization in these now relatively sparse toad populations in central areas of the American West within Nebraska.
One particular venue fostering amphibian education as well scientific scholarship is the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. From here, it's easy for readers to plan trips to observe wildlife such as these protected and cherished amphibian populations.
