California’s most iconic native frog, rare and unique to just a few corners of the planet, is making a quiet but hopeful comeback in our region. This is all thanks to a team of dedicated biologists and the Aquarium of the Pacific, which has released nearly 600 California red-legged frog tadpoles into the streams of the Santa Monica Mountains.
The eggs were brought to the Aquarium, where the team took over, hatching and raising the tadpoles in a safe environment throughout the spring. This rescue mission is just one chapter in a much bigger story. For over a decade, the Aquarium and the NPS have been working together to bring back sustainable populations of the California red-legged frog, a federally threatened species and one that holds special conservation status across the state.
The red-legged frog used to be widespread across California, but the last sightings in the Santa Monica Mountains were back in the 1970s. Since reintroduction efforts started in 2014, biologists are now hopeful that these young frogs might finally help the population bounce back.
Erin Lundy, manager of conservation initiatives at the Aquarium of the Pacific, told the Santa Monica Daily Press, “protecting native amphibians is key to preserving biodiversity and keeping ecosystems balanced right here at home. Species like the red-legged frog are crucial players in the food web, acting as both predators and prey during different stages of their lives.”
Officials stress that the program’s success depends heavily on public cooperation. Visitors to the Santa Monica Mountains are urged to stick to marked trails and keep pets away from streams, especially during breeding season (between November and April), to help protect and support the delicate recovery efforts.