SAVE THE FROGS! supporters from George Mason University are leading a protest in defense of frog populations this Saturday, September 4th, 5pm, at the Rio Grande Café in Arlington, VA. We are depending on you to join this valiant group of frog savers in protesting Rio Grande’s sales of frogs’ legs. The future of amphibious life on planet Earth is at stake, so stand up and make your voice heard this Saturday: the frogs are depending on you!

Uncle Julio’s Rio Grande restaurants have never responded to over 1,000 letters that SAVE THE FROGS! supporters have sent them regarding their sales of frog legs. The frog legs trade is responsible for the spread of infectious diseases and harmful invasive species, and the depletion of wild frog populations. One-third of the world’s amphibian species are already on the verge of extinction and thus a wealthy corporation like Uncle Julio’s Rio Grande restaurants has no business contributing to the further extinction of frog species.

With your help this Saturday we can educate the restaurants’ patrons about frog extinctions AND make the restaurant re-assess its deplorable environmental practices. With your help, I have no doubt we can get all 16 Uncle Julio’s Rio Grande restaurants to stop selling frog legs, just like San Francisco’s Restaurant Gary Danko did in April after we made our voices heard to them. But only with your help!

PLEASE TAKE A STAND THIS SATURDAY: IT’S UP TO YOU TO SAVE THE FROGS!

WHERE:
Uncle Julio’s Rio Grande Cafe,
4301 N. Fairfax Drive
Arlington, VA 22203

WHEN:
Saturday, September 4th
5pm-8pm

WHY:
Uncle Julio’s Rio Grande restaurants sell American Bullfrogs farm-raised in China. These frogs regularly escape their rearing facilities and spread infectious diseases to native frog populations. A recent study showed that up to 62% of the American Bullfrogs entering the USA for food are infected with the chytrid fungus, responsible for the extinction of up to 100 amphibian species worldwide. The bullfrogs are also voracious predators of native frogs and other native wildlife. Learn all about the frog legs trade here.

I can’t think of many ways worse ways for a frog to die than to get munched alive by a huge American Bullfrog, and I can’t think of many more excruciatingly slow ways for a frog to die than to have millions of chytrid fungi eating away at their skin until they finally go into cardiac arrest, their species being driven to complete extinction. You’re not going to let that be the fate of the world’s remaining frog populations are you?

Uncle Julio’s arrogantly ignores that their trade practices are contributing to the worldwide extinction of amphibian species. I’m a firm believer that citizens like me and you need to stand up to corporations that willingly destroy the environment without a care. That’s what the Rio Grande Café is doing, and you can help put an end to it, this Saturday at 5pm.

WHAT ARE THE PROTESTS LIKE?
They are fun, peaceful, fulfilling and enlightening. They will be even better with you there!
http://www.savethefrogs.com/frogblog/save-the-frogs/frog-legs-protests-a-huge-success/

WHAT IS THE GOAL?
The goal is to raise awareness of the problems related to the frog legs trade, and to persuade potential customers to boycott the restaurant, so that the Uncle Julio’s Corporation (which cares about money, not the environment) feels compelled to remove frog legs from their menu.

WHAT TO BRING:
A positive attitude! Assuming you have RSVP’d, we can provide you a sign. Or you can make one for yourself (e.g. “Rio Grande: Stop Driving Frogs To Extinction!” or “SAVE THE FROGS! Boycott Rio Grande”).

CAN I BRING MY KIDS?
Sure. The protests are peaceful and fun. Plus, kids can SAVE THE FROGS at least as well as adults.

I CAN’T ATTEND…WHAT CAN I DO?
(1) Email this message to anyone you know who cares about protecting wildlife.

(2) If you in the DC area, you can post one of these flyers at your office:

http://www.savethefrogs.com/actions/frog-legs/images/Flyer-Rio-Grande.pdf

(3) Everybody should call the restaurant at 703.528.3131 and tell them you do not plan to eat at their establishment until they remove frog legs from their menu (though you would be happy to if they removed the frog legs from the menu). Then email, call or write their CEO TODD Conger and tell him the same thing:
Todd Conger, CEO
Uncle Julio’s Corporation
1101 N. Union Bower, Suite 160
Irving, Texas 75061
Email: todd.conger@unclejulios.com
Phone: 972-554-6886

PLEASE RSVP IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE PROTEST!

QUESTIONS:
Email speakup@savethefrogs.com

THANKS AND SAVE THE FROGS!
Kerry Kriger, Ph.D.
SAVE THE FROGS! Founder, Executive Director & Ecologist

Sign up to receive the SAVE THE FROGS! newsletter at http://savethefrogs.com/newsletters

You can send this letter to the New Zealand government by visiting the SAVE THE FROGS! Take Action page!

Mr. Gerry Brownlee
Minister of Economic Development
schedule4@med.govt.nz

Dear Mr. Brownlee,
I am writing to urge you to maintain all Schedule 4 protections on New Zealand’s currently protected conservation areas. These wilderness lands received such protection to ensure the long-term survival of New Zealand’s unique flora and fauna, and these lands are the basis on which New Zealand’s outdoor tourism economy is based. Removing the protections from these areas would ensure the extinction of the Archey’s Frog (Leiopelma archeyi), and would cause significant damage to New Zealand’s reputation as a tourist destination of unmatched natural beauty.

The survival of all the earth’s inhabitants depends on healthy ecosystems, and the land the Government is proposing to remove from Schedule 4 has extremely high value for New Zealand wildlife. In particular, New Zealand is home to some of the world’s most threatened frog species, at least one of which would almost certainly go extinct should mining be allowed to take place in their habitat. The Archey’s Frog and Hochstetter’s Frog, both which live on the land in question, have been labeled two of the most evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered frog species on the planet. Unfortunately, the Archey’s Frog has lost 88% of its population in the last 14 years, and neither species can be bred in captivity, meaning that the government’s proposal — should it go through — could banish the species to their permanent and premature demise. With one-third of the world’s amphibian species already on the brink of extinction, this would be absolutely unacceptable.

Furthermore, New Zealand has an international reputation as being one of the most beautiful places in the world, and this natural beauty is the source of the tourism industry on which all New Zealander’s depend. Removing Schedule 4 protections from New Zealand’s prime conservation areas would tarnish the country’s image, and cost the nation far more that any short-term gains brought by mining currently protected lands.

Removing the proposed lands’ Schedule 4 protections would be in the worst interest of New Zealand and all its inhabitants. As such, I strongly urge you to act on behalf of New Zealand’s threatened frog species and the long-term future of all New Zealanders: abandon all research into mining the proposed areas, and do not remove Schedule 4 protections from any of the country’s currently listed conservation areas.

Thanks for your consideration.
Dr. Kerry Kriger
SAVE THE FROGS! Founder, Executive Director & Ecologist

Victory for California’s native amphibians!

Millions of non-native American Bullfrogs enter San Francisco and Los Angeles each year from ports in China, Taiwan, Brazil and Uruguay. These farm-raised frogs are known carriers of a deadly chytrid fungus that has decimated California’s Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog Populations, and caused the complete extinction of up to 100 amphibian species worldwide. One study showed that over 60% of the American Bullfrogs tested in California markets were infected with this deadly fungus! Being farmed around the world has also enabled the bullfrogs to become harmful invasive species that prey on native wildlife — both overseas, and right here in California. The endangered California Red-Legged Frogs are a favorite food of the predatory bullfrogs.

On April 8th, 2010, the CA Department of Fish & Game made the wise decision to ban the importation of non-native frogs and turtles for food. Unfortunately, a vocal minority of restaurant and supermarket owners successfully lobbied the Fish & Game Commission to hold a “re-consideration” of that ruling.

On May 19th, 2010, SAVE THE FROGS! Founder Dr. Kerry Kriger testified at the Commission’s May 19th “reconsideration” hearing, highlighting the spread of infectious disease and invasive species that inevitably accompany the frog legs trade. Not only did the Commission vote 3-2 to maintain the ban on the importation of non-native frogs and turtles for use as food, they also voted to research methods of enforcing the ban and ensuring invasive species do not slip into the state via potential loopholes.

Thanks to the 1,196 SAVE THE FROGS! supporters letters that sent in letters to the Department of Fish & Game over the past 4 days!

Dr. Kriger’s letter to the Fish & Game Commission follows:
“My name is Dr. Kerry Kriger. I am the Founder & Executive Director of SAVE THE FROGS!, America’s first and only public charity dedicated to amphibian conservation. Our mission is to protect amphibian populations and to promote a society that respects and appreciates nature and wildlife. I have been involved in environmental conservation for 14 years, and have worked full time on amphibian conservation for 7 years.

On behalf of SAVE THE FROGS!, on behalf of our 300+ members and 1,300+ financial supporters, and on behalf of California’s 16 threatened amphibian species, I urge you to maintain the ban on the importation of non-native frogs and turtles into California for use as food. Reversing this ban would ensure the continued and magnified spread of harmful invasive species and pathogens, and thus would be in the worst interest of California’s ecosystems and all the state’s inhabitants.

Invasive species are one of the most significant threats to biodiversity in California and worldwide, and they are also one of the most costly: the Nature Conservancy estimates that invasive species cost Americans 120 billion dollars each year.

Millions of non-native American Bullfrogs enter San Francisco and Los Angeles each year from ports in China, Taiwan, Brazil, Uruguay and elsewhere. These farm-raised frogs are known carriers of a deadly chytrid fungus that has decimated California’s native frog populations and caused the complete extinction of up to 100 amphibian species worldwide. A recent study showed that over 60% of the American Bullfrogs tested in California markets were infected with this deadly fungus.

Being farmed around the world has also enabled the bullfrogs to become harmful invasive species that prey on native wildlife – both overseas, and right here in California. For example, the endangered California Red-Legged Frog is a favorite prey item of the predatory bullfrogs.

So long as non-native frogs and turtles are brought into the state, it is inevitable that some will escape or be set free and establish populations. It is also inevitable that the waterborne pathogens these animals carry will enter Californian ecosystems, as the regulation and sterilization of used water from the animal’s tanks would not be feasible. Eradication of invasive species and pathogens is nearly impossible.

Though assertions have been put forth that this ban improperly targets Asian communities due to the lack of a concurrent regulation of non-native frogs and turtles for use as pets, two wrongs do not make a right: a lack of proper regulation of the pet industry does not justify a failure to act intelligently with the food industry. Indeed I also urge the Department of Fish & Game to consider similar regulations on the import of non-native frogs and turtles for use as pets.

Also, the claim that this ban harms traditional Chinese culture is flawed:

First: the vast majority of the frogs being imported for food are American Bullfrogs, which have only a very recent history in Chinese cuisine; and

Second: Cultures necessarily evolve: if they did not, we would have long since eaten the buffalo and the California Red-Legged Frog to complete extinction, as we did the passenger pigeons.

As Americans, we are fortunate to have many choices of food, and thus it is our responsibility to act wisely and ensure that our culinary decisions are not unduly impacting our natural heritage and the future of our planet. As such, I request the Fish & Game Commission and the Department of Fish & Game uphold the ban on the importation of non-native frogs and turtles into California.

Thanks for your consideration.
Dr. Kerry Kriger

The world’s first protests in defense of amphibian populations took part on the 2nd Annual Save The Frogs Day (April 30th, 2010). Richard Scordato of Black & White recently interviewed SAVE THE FROGS! Founder Dr. Kerry Kriger about the protests. The transcript of this interview follows.

1. When did you start your protest of Uncle Julio’s Rio Grande and why?
Uncle Julio’s Rio Grande restaurants sell frog legs, the trade of which is responsible for the depletion of wild frog populations, the spread of harmful infectious diseases, and the spread of invasive species. Amphibians are rapidly disappearing worldwide, and Americans consume 20% of the world’s frog legs. There is no reason for a high-end Tex-Mex restaurant to be a contributor to the global amphibian extinction crisis. I began writing Uncle Julio’s Rio Grande headquarters in December 2009. They failed to respond to any of my three Federal Express letters, multiple emails or phone calls, so SAVE THE FROGS! began organizing protests in mid-April.

2. How have you protested Rio Grande? Have you been successful?
The world’s first protests in defense of frog populations took place at four of their restaurants (Dallas, Arlington, VA, Fairfax, VA and Bethesda, MD) on the 2nd Annual Save The Frogs Day, April 30th 2010, which was the largest day of amphibian education and conservation action in the planet’s history, with 85 events in 21 countries.

The goal of the protests are two-fold: (1) educate passersby about amphibian extinctions and (2) decrease the restaurant chain’s profits until they have no choice but to remove frog legs from their menus. Unfortunately, many businesses are like Rio Grande, in that their profits are their sole motivating factor, with no regard for the environment or the communities in which they exist.

The Save The Frogs Day protests were successful at educating hundreds of passersby about the problems associated with the frog legs trade. The protests were also successful in that they cost Rio Grande money. SAVE THE FROGS! supporters diverted many potential diners from eating at the restaurants, and many of the restaurants hired private security guards for the day. At the Bethesda location, eight security guards followed our protesters around for 6 hours, even though we had made it clear to the restaurants in advance that they would be peaceful protests.

3. What are the general ramifications of Rio Grande’s serving frog leg’s?
The American Bullfrogs they sell are farm-raised in China. Such frog farms pack hundreds to thousands of frogs in close quarters, where they are known to contract and spread a deadly chytrid fungus that has driven up to 100 amphibian species to complete extinction worldwide. The bullfrogs also regularly escape their holding pens and wreak damage on native frog populations, as they are large frogs that eat anything they can fit in their mouths.

4. What are your plans for protesting Rio Grande further?
We will continue to protest at Uncle Julio’s Rio Grande restaurants indefinitely until the business either gets sold, goes bankrupt, or removes frog legs from their menus. Clearly the latter would be the optimal solution for all parties.

5. Have your protested any other business’s about their mistreatment of frogs?
Uncle Julio’s Rio Grande is the first such business, but they will likely not be the last. However, we would never protest any business without first informing them of the problems they are creating, and offering alternatives.

We seek people to participate in the protests at Uncle Julio’s restaurants in TX, MD, VA, IL, GA and FL, and also people to help promote them. If interested, please email contact@savethefrogs.com
Thanks!

Press Release From The San Diego Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Research
April 15, 2010

The endangered mountain yellow-legged frog (Rana muscosa) will take a major step in its recovery this week when, for the first time, scientists reintroduce its eggs to its former habitat. This reintroduction will occur at University of California Riverside’s James San Jacinto Mountains Reserve, part of the University of California Natural Reserve System, and will be done in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the San Diego Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Research. Once common throughout much of southern California, the mountain yellow-legged frog has been decreasing in numbers since the 1970s due to what scientists call the “perfect storm” that is affecting frog populations around the globe — decreasing habitat, increasing pollution and invasive species, the spread of the deadly chytrid fungus and the effects of climate change. Today, only a small wild population of less than 200 individuals can be found in the San Gabriel, San Bernardino, and San Jacinto Mountains.

In 2006, scientists collected mountain yellow-legged frog tadpoles from the remaining wild populations in the San Jacinto Mountains and took them to the San Diego Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Research where, for the first time, specialists were able to establish a captive breeding program for the species. This year’s reproductive season at the Zoo has been so successful that scientists have decided to attempt a reintroduction into the wild.

There are 61 mountain yellow-legged frogs at the San Diego Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Research. Scientists attempted to spur breeding in January by putting half of that population into a cooler that mimicked high mountain winter conditions. The chill caused the frogs to hibernate. About two weeks ago the frogs were taken out of the coolers and began displaying breeding behaviors within a few days. “Three months ago the San Diego Zoo started an experimental procedure of chilling these frogs to see how it would affect breeding. It has been wildly successful and as a result today we can reintroduce about 500 eggs into the San Jacinto Mountains” said Jeff Lemm Research Coordinator for the San Diego Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Research “This is a momentous day – the first reintroduction of these endangered frog eggs ever back into their natural habitat and the San Diego Zoo is thrilled to be a part of it”. They selected the James San Jacinto Mountains Reserve for this reintroduction because it is a protected area with ideal habitats in the species’ former range.

The mountain yellow-legged frog is one of three Southern California frog or toad species on the Federal Endangered Species List. Biologists from the USGS will be responsible for the initial phase of the reintroduction, and will be releasing egg masses into deep permanent pools, followed by the additional release of tadpoles later in the year. They will then closely monitor the health and success of the reintroduction. It will take two years for the tadpoles to morph into adults and as they are not a migratory species the frogs will stay in the creek within the bounds of the protected reserve where they can be easily monitored. “This is an amazing first step in the recovery program for this wonderful frog, and we are looking forward to having the frogs here for a long time to come” said Becca Fenwick, Director of the James San Jacinto Mountains Reserve.

For more information please contact Adam Backlin, Ecologist for the USGS; (714) 508 4702, abacklin@usgs.gov, or Dani Dodge Medlin, San Diego Zoo’s Public Relations Representative; (619) 685 3291. Photo and video of the release will be made available Friday by the San Diego Zoo.
The James San Jacinto Mountains Reserve is one of thirty-six University of California run reserves throughout the state protecting over 135,000 acres. The Natural Reserve System was established in 1965 to protect and make available natural lands for research, university level instruction and public outreach. The system of reserves broadly represents California’s rich ecological diversity, provides protected locations for long-term study and opportunities for outdoor education. The NRS is the largest university operated system of natural reserves in the world. For more information on the James San Jacinto Mountains Reserve, or the NRS contact Becca Fenwick or visit www.jamesreserve.edu

USGS provides science for a changing world. For more information, visit www.usgs.gov.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to
conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for
the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and
trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific
excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated
professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

The San Diego Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Research is dedicated to generating, sharing and applying scientific knowledge vital to the conservation of animals, plants and habitats worldwide. The work of the Institute includes onsite research efforts at the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park, laboratory work the at Arnold and Beckman Center for Conservation Research, and international field programs involving more than 180 researchers working in 35 countries. In addition to the Beckman Center for Conservation Research, the Institute also operates the Anne and Kenneth Griffin Reptile Conservation Center, the Botanical Conservation Center, the Keauhou and Maui Hawaiian Bird Conservation Centers and the Desert Tortoise Conservation Center. The Zoo also manages the 1,800-acre San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park, which includes a 900-acre native species reserve, and the San Diego Zoo. The important conservation and science work of the entities is supported in part by The Foundation of the Zoological Society of San Diego.

Regulating live trade could help prevent amphibian extinctions from chytridiomycosis

• On September 9, 2009, Defenders of Wildlife filed two detailed petitions – one with the Department of the Interior and the other with the Department of Agriculture – urging them to immediately regulate live amphibian imports in the pet, food, scientific and live bait trades to block the deadly amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, known as “Bd” or as the “chytrid fungus”. The disease poses a major threat to native amphibians, having already driven numerous frog species to extinction worldwide.

• Live amphibian imports are currently unregulated, creating excessive and unnecessary risk that the Bd pathogen will continue to enter, spread within and be shipped out of the United States. This unregulated trade – primarily for pet use and as live animals for consumption as frog legs – threatens the survival of many amphibians, including dozens of U.S. and foreign species listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act.

• Prominent amphibian experts have endorsed these petitions, which provide key factual and legal analysis on how to tackle this emerging epidemic.

WASHINGTON (August 9, 2009) Peter T. Jenkins, director of international conservation for Defenders of Wildlife, urges regulation of live amphibian imports to help stem the spread of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis:

“It is critical that the U.S. follow the latest international animal health standards to ensure that the massive volumes of live amphibian imports do not continue to carry this deadly disease. Frogs and salamanders worldwide are going extinct due to Bd infections, but we can help them now by cleaning up this trade. We urge the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to quickly approve the petitions we filed today.”

LINKS:
Read Defenders’ petition to the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Read Defenders’ petition to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Read more about Defenders’ work to safeguard amphibians.
Read Broken Screens, Defenders’ report on improving the regulation of live animal imports.

Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With more than 1 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife heritage for generations to come.

SACRAMENTO, Calif.— In response to litigation by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today designated more than 1.6 million acres of critical habitat for the California red-legged frog in 28 California counties. The designation is three-and-a-half times as large as the Service’s 2006 designation, which the agency acknowledged was flawed because of political interference by the Bush administration.

“With protection of its habitat, the California red-legged frog has a chance at survival,” said Noah Greenwald, endangered species director with the Center for Biological Diversity. “Today’s designation is a wakeup call to start protecting and restoring California’s wetlands, where the frog was once a very abundant resident.”

In November 2007, under pressure brought by the Center and the media highlighting Interior Department corruption, the Service announced its reversal of six illegal Endangered Species Act decisions, including the California red-legged frog’s 2006 critical habitat designation. The Service listed the red-legged frog (Rana aurora draytonii) as a threatened species in 1996 and designated 4,140,440 acres of critical habitat in 2001, but in response to a lawsuit by developers, the Service revised critical habitat in 2006 to include just 450,288 acres — a reduction of 90 percent from the original designation.

“Today’s designation restores needed habitat protections for the red-legged frog and provides hope for the recovery of this unique California animal,” Greenwald said. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service still has a long way to go to dig itself out of the hole left by the Bush administration’s efforts to deny endangered species protections.”

In 2007, the Center for Biological Diversity and other groups filed lawsuits challenging the Service’s refusal to properly designate and protect critical habitat areas for 19 endangered species, including the California red-legged frog. The suits are part of a broader effort by the Center to challenge political corruption that harmed 55 endangered species and denied needed protection to more than 8.5 million acres of wildlife habitat. To date, the Fish and Wildlife Service has agreed to reconsider designation of critical habitat for 43 species.
Made famous in the Mark Twain story “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” the California red-legged frog has lost more than 70 percent of its historic habitat. Frog populations have declined due to habitat loss from urbanization and the introduction of exotic species such as bullfrogs. The frog is believed to be extinct in the Central Valley and is extirpated from 99 percent of its Sierra Nevada range. Currently, the strongest breeding populations remaining are found along the California coast from San Mateo County to San Luis Obispo County.

The red-legged frog prefers ponds, marshes, and creeks with still water. It requires riparian and upland areas with dense vegetation and open areas for cover, aestivation (summertime hibernation), food, and basking. Undisturbed riparian vegetation is also necessary for female frogs to attach their egg masses, which must float on the water surface for about two weeks in order to hatch.

Background information on the red-legged frog can be found on the Center for Biological Diversity’s Web site at: www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/amphibians/California_red-legged_frog/index.html.

Contact: Noah Greenwald, Center for Biological Diversity, (503) 484-7495

The Center for Biological Diversity is a nonprofit conservation organization with more than 255,000 members and online activists, dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.

By Wildlife Biologist Mark Allaback

Although it has taken a decade and is (somewhat) ongoing, I believe I have been instrumental in eradicating bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) after they were introduced to the Big Sur Watershed in 2000 at a California Red-Legged Frog (Rana draytonii) breeding pond. Of course, the bullfrog eradication effort required lots of work, including 2 pond drainings and endless hunting. But since there were no known bullfrog sources from the relatively isolated area, it was a worthwhile effort.

Unfortunately, we have also lost the California Red-Legged Frog breeding population from the site, almost certainly due to Louisiana Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). Although present when I arrived in 2000, after draining the pond, they completely took over, effectively removing all submergent vegetative cover and presumably feasting on eggs and tadpoles (scattered detections of tiny numbers of late-stage tadpoles were nearly all hammered by pincers). The pond is perennial. Daily crayfish trapping does nothing, although 5000-6000 crayfish are removed each year.

This year we may essentially take the pond out of commission, at least half the year, by dewatering in late May and keeping it dry until the rains begin in Oct. Perhaps if we do this, the crayfish reproductive cycle will break, and Red-Legged Frogs will one day re-colonize. However, Red-Legged Frogs have not bred successfully since about 2002, although they attempted to for many years (egg mass counts have dropped from ~45 in 2004 to 1 this year).

The crayfish burrow but maybe reducing the hydro-period to 6-7 months for 1 or more years will take them out. My fear is that they will return, since I have seen them disperse overland and found them under debris far from water.

Learn more about invasive species here.

We are pleased to announce that the 2nd Annual Save The Frogs Day will be held on Friday April 30th, 2010. Save The Frogs Day is an event we conceived and coordinate. The goal of Save The Frogs Day is to raise global awareness of amphibian extinctions, and to get people of all ages actively involved in amphibian conservation efforts.

http://savethefrogs.com/day

The 1st Annual Save The Frogs Day was legally recognized by Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia and Mayor Gregor Robertson of Vancouver, BC, and Save The Frogs Day educational events took place in at least fifteen countries worldwide. We are working hard to ensure that Save The Frogs Day 2010 events take place at thousands of schools, zoos, museums, and community groups worldwide, and that the day is covered by major news outlets throughout the world.

There are already Save The Frogs Day events planned in the USA, Croatia, Colombia, Italy, India South Africa and Brazil. In the coming weeks, we’ll be listing details of all these events on the Save The Frogs Day webpage.

We need you to get involved! The Save The Frogs Day webpage lists at least 15 ways that teachers, students and schools can take part in Save The Frogs Day activities. We also have ideas for scientists, zoos, museums, musicians, and businesses. And everybody can help by spreading the word…emailing your friends and colleagues, putting a link to Save The Frogs Day on your webpage, etc.

To make Save The Frogs Day huge, we need your financial support!
Frogs are going extinct worldwide. Please help us cover the costs of educational and promotional materials to ensure Save The Frogs Day permeates the distant corners of the planet…as well as the schools in your hometown!

Big thanks to the 452 SAVE THE FROGS! supporters who sent letters to the California Fish & Game Commission urging them to protect the California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense). The Commission voted 3-2 yesterday to protect the Tiger Salamanders under the state Endangered Species Act. This represents a major step forward in the conservation of the species. The salamanders are threatened with extinction due to the widespread destruction of their habitat; high rates of road mortality; and hybridization with invasive species. Thanks to the Center for Biological Diversity for initiating and following through with the petitions and lawsuits that kept the pressure on the Commission over the last six years.