Jumping Frogs: Hopping Into Oblivion? Wesley F. Sander September 8, 2004 "Surviving in scattered areas around California, the red-legged frog was declared threatened in 1996 under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). The resulting effort produced the second-largest critical habitat area ever mapped‹4.1 million acres sprawling over the state¹s Central Valley and Sierra Nevada foothills‹and since then, the frog has transformed from a treasured icon of Gold Rush California into a symbol of the ongoing fight over federal species protection." Read the full story at emagazine.com. Rancher's Children Become "Junior Biologists" in Quest to Save Twain's Frog July 16, 2004 - for immediate release - "Two young children of a Calaveras County ranching family are playing a major role in assisting a team of amphibian scientists and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) as they work to save Mark Twain's "celebrated" jumping frog." Read the full release. NOTES 06/01/03 Frogs and toads seem to be in the news alot these days, and also in the allotments (grazing allotments, that is). This can make for some seemingly tough choices in the ongoing battle over specific provisions designed to protect amphibians like the Yosemite toad that are part of the US Forest Service's management plan for the Sierra Nevada (the Framework). JFRI believes the best solution to this difficult problem is one that adopts flexible rules based on a scientifically-sound management plan created for the toad that ensures its long-term survival. As we said in the article below, this means that certain grazing allotments will have to be restricted, reduced, or even "retired." But a "one-size-fits-all" approach is probably not the best way to go for the toad, and certainly is not for the ranchers. Put a slightly different way, we disagree with those who want to use the Framework to "get rid of all the cows." JFRI believes that maintaining the economic viability of foothill ranchers (so they don't sell out to developers) is critical to the survival of many amphibian species. For example, the FWS recently concluded that were it not for ranchers' stockponds, there would be no California tiger salamanders left in the Central Valley. In addition, any serious attempt to recover the California red-legged frog -- and probably the foothill yellow-legged frog as well -- must find a way to get foothill ranchers involved in the process (as they have the best remaining available habitat). This is why JFRI believes that a much more comprehensive solution must be sought, whereby neither the toad nor the rancher is allowed to become extinct. We are sharing a number of ideas we have on this issue with the Forest Service in the hope of coming up with a better solution. Robert Stack JFRI Executive Director

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