Is there a way to save the mountain yellow legged frog?

Question

I was watching national geographic about Yosemite Park this afternoon and I heard that airline gas/pollution has made this frog in the extinction list.

They said ten years ago the mountian yellow legged frog was one of the most thriving amphibians there. But now they say that the frogs population has decreased 95%!. Is there a way to save these frogs from extinction; from these airplane pesticides killing this beautiful frog.....?.

Answer 1

The mountain yellow legged frog probably has been displaced by the bullfrog as well. The bullfrog has outcompeted a lot of California native frogs.

Weirdly enough, active ingredients of pesticides are tested on amphibians, reptiles, etc., but the inert ingredients are not regulated at ALL by the US EPA. One example that I know about is an inert ingredient in Roundup, a surfactant, that causes frogs problems.

A cool thing that happened is that the USEPA was sued and is having to go back and look at pesticides (rather the pesticide manufacturers are) again to see if they specifically harm the frog in its habitat. The manufacturers were found not to have done adequate testing to ensure that the red legged frog was harmed. They've stopped the use of those pesticides (roundup and a LOT of common pesticides are on the list) in some very specific areas until the manufacturers prove that the pesticide is or isn't harmful. It's one of the few moments where I have rejoiced a bit. Unfortunately though, the habitat for the frog is so small, that not much area is affected...

http://www.epa.gov/espp/litigation/redle...

By the way, every animal should have a chance to live, and sea turtles and the like are much higher on the food chain. You wipe out frogs or other supporting animals and PLANTS, then you wipe out the top of the food chain. I'm far more concerned about habitat destruction than any particular species. They're all getting destroyed, and the yellow legged frog is just cuter than the rest, so gets more attention.

Answer 2

Sorry, but there are many other animals higher on my list than a frog, like the sea turtles that are close to becoming extinct.  Also I believe some species of whales are close to becoming extinct as well.