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Jim Nickles (916) 414-6572 (916) 501-6885 (cell)
SACRAMENTO, California – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it has determined that the Sierra Nevada population of the mountain yellow-legged frog warrants protection under the Endangered Species Act, but that listing the species under the Act is precluded by the need to take other listing actions of a higher priority.
The Service will add this population of mountain yellow-legged frog to its list of candidate species and review the frog’s status annually. When a "warranted but precluded" finding is made for a species, the Service classifies it as a candidate for listing. If the Service proposes the frog for listing in the future, the public will have an opportunity to comment.
The Service made the determination in response to a petition filed in February 2000 by the Center for Biological Diversity and the Pacific Rivers Council. The Service completed an initial review in October 2000 and concluded that the petition contained substantial information supporting a full study of the frog’s status. The Service has completed a comprehensive review – known as a 12-month finding – and determined that there is sufficient scientific and commercial data to propose listing the species as endangered throughout its range. However, the Service is precluded from beginning work immediately on a listing proposal because its limited resources must be devoted to other, higher priority actions.
The Sierra Nevada population of the mountain yellow-legged frog is a separate, distinct population from the southern California population of the mountain yellow-legged frog, and comprises the remainder of the species’ range. The Sierra Nevada population ranges from southern Plumas County to southern Tulare County, and extends into Nevada in the vicinity of Lake Tahoe and northward to the slopes of Mount Rose.
Mountain yellow-legged frog populations have declined by an estimated 50 to 80 percent throughout the Sierra Nevada. The 12-month finding reviewed available scientific studies and concluded that the stocking of non-native fish, disease, air pollution, and the effects of poorly-managed livestock grazing have negatively affected the frogs and their habitat.
The mountain yellow-legged frog is among several native California amphibian species that are in trouble. The California red-legged frog, arroyo toad, southern California population of the mountain yellow-legged frog, and the Santa Barbara and Sonoma County populations of the California tiger salamander are already listed species.
The State of California considers the mountain yellow-legged frog a species of special concern. California Sport Fishing Regulations include the mountain yellow-legged frog as a protected species, one that may not be taken or possessed at any time except under special permit from the California Department of Fish and Game.
Amphibians worldwide appear to be in trouble, and are good "indicators" of significant environmental changes that may go initially undetected by humans. Amphibians breathe partially (and in some species, completely), through their skin, which is constantly exposed to the environment. Their bodies are much more vulnerable and sensitive to factors such as disease, pollution, toxic chemicals, radiation, and habitat destruction. The worldwide occurrences of amphibian declines and deformities could be an early warning of serious ecosystem imbalances that could affect human health.
Adult mountain yellow-legged frogs are approximately 2 to 3 inches in length. Their bellies and hind legs are often yellow or orange; the back has black or brown spots on a background of yellowish or reddish brown. The tadpoles are mottled brown and require multiple years before metamorphosing into frogs.
The Sierra Nevada population of the mountain yellow-legged frog inhabits lakes, ponds, springs and streams typically between 4,500 feet and 12,000 feet. A highly aquatic frog, it is rarely found more than several jumps from water. At lower elevations, it may be found in rocky stream beds and wet meadows surrounded by coniferous forest. At higher elevations, it may be found in alpine ponds and lakes as well as montane meadow streams.
A complete description of the Service’s finding on the Sierra Nevada population of the mountain yellow-legged frog was published in today’s Federal Register. More information on today’s action, including a Q&A and photos, are available on the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office’s Web page at http://sacramento.fws.gov
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 540 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 70 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
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