SANTA CRUZ NONPROFITS WORK TO SAVE ENDANGERED FROGS AT ANTONELLI POND
Community Cleanup Event Set For This Monday In Santa Cruz
For Immediate Release
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Santa Cruz, CA - 16-January-2011. Two local nonprofits are kicking off a campaign this Monday to restore habitat for endangered California Red-Legged Frogs at Antonelli Pond on the west side of Santa Cruz. Save The Frogs has teamed up with the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County to increase the endangered frog's population size. The two groups will be at the pond Monday January 17th from 9am-12pm removing invasive weeds and planting native vegetation. Volunteers of all ages are welcome to join the efforts and help save the pond's frogs.
Amphibians are rapidly disappearing worldwide, and 200 species have gone completely extinct in the last three decades. Santa Cruz is home to three threatened amphibian species: the California Red-Legged Frog, Santa Cruz Long-Toed Salamander and the California Tiger Salamander. Santa Cruz is fortunate to have a small population of California Red-Legged Frogs at Antonelli Pond, an urban pond that sees high recreational use. Unfortunately, the long-term future of this population is not secure due to the presence of predatory non-native fish and frogs at the site, as well as heavy infestation of weeds surrounding the pond.
Thanks to a grant from the local clothing retailer Patagonia, SAVE THE FROGS! and the Land Trust will be working throughout 2011 to restore habitat at Antonelli Pond. The restoration work will include removing invasive weeds and non-native American Bullfrogs (which prey on the native frogs), and planting native vegetation at the pond. There will also be an educational component: creating signs to educate the pond's visitors about the plight of amphibians and ways they can assist amphibian conservation efforts, and creating a short documentary about the Antonelli Pond restoration project.
Two local elementary schools have already pledged to spend a day at the pond helping out. "It's great to see the local community and especially students taking an interest in the pond and the endangered frogs that live there", says Dr. Kerry Kriger, Founder & Executive Director of SAVE THE FROGS!.
Save The Frogs has created a webpage detailing the threats to California Red-Legged Frogs at Antonelli Pond, and their plan to restore habitat for the endangered frogs:
http://savethefrogs.com/antonelli
More Information:
All ages are welcome to help in the restoration effort.
Antonelli Pond (near Long Marine Lab)
Monday, January 17th, 2011; 9am-12pm
www.savethefrogs.com/antonelli
Contact:
Kerry Kriger, Ph.D.
SAVE THE FROGS! Founder, Executive Director and Ecologist
Phone: (831) 621-6215
E-mail: contact@savethefrogs.com
About SAVE THE FROGS!
SAVE THE FROGS! (http://savethefrogs.com) is America’s first and only public charity dedicated to amphibian conservation. The mission of SAVE THE FROGS! is to protect amphibian populations and to promote a society that respects and appreciates nature and wildlife.
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Website design, photos & content by Kerry Kriger unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2008-2011 SAVE THE FROGS!TM All Rights Reserved.
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SAVE THE FROGS! is a 501(c)(3) public charity, and
SAVE THE FROGS! is a registered trademark.
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