Threatened Frog Species Found In Santa Monica Mountains: Report

SANTA MONICA, CA — For the first time in seven years, a species of frog considered threatened under the Endangered Species Act has been found alive and reproducing in the Santa Monica Mountains, National Parks Traveler reported this week.

Once common in the area, California red-legged frogs disappeared from the mountains in the 1970s, according to the National Park Service. It is believed that a combination of habitat degradation, drought, fire and other factors led to their disappearance.

Scientists intervened in 2014, placing frogs and egg masses in pools throughout the mountains, the park service said. The efforts paid off, and the amphibians continued to live and reproduce organically in the mountains until the Woolsey fire and subsequent heavy rains destroyed their habitats in 2018.

Recently, however, surveyors found four California red-legged frog egg masses, along with one male and one female frog, in the mountains. The find indicated the creature is once again breeding on its own in the wild, National Parks Traveler reported.

While it's too early to say if the sightings mean red-legged frogs will make a full return to the mountains, ecologist Katy Delaney told the publication she is hopeful.

“This is one more step towards our goal of self-sustaining populations of these frogs in our region,” she said.

Area residents and visitors to the mountains can take simple steps to protect threatened species, the park service said.

When hiking, visitors were urged to stay on trails, tread lightly around aquatic habitats and keep dogs out of water. Making the switch to environmentally friendly products can also help protect wildlife, especially amphibians, as harsh chemicals can easily penetrate their skin.

Lastly, the park service urged residents to avoid dumping unwanted aquatic pets such as fish, crayfish or turtles into the water system as they are "the biggest threat to amphibians in the Santa Monica Mountains."