Rare Mountain Yellow-Legged Frogs Cope with Drought in California

It turns out a species of rare frogs are holding their own, despite drought conditions. Scientists have found that mountain yellow-legged frogs, a species once brought to the brink of extinction, are coping with the dry environment.

This particular frog population in California has been carefully monitored since specimens were released into the wild by San Diego Zoo Global wildlife conservationists at two protected sites in 2013. These frogs almost went extinct due to the threats of wildfire, habitat destruction and chytrid fungus.

"When we released these frogs into the wild, we knew they would be facing natural challenges to their survival, like predation," said Frank Santana, a research coordinator, in a news release. "The drought is adding an additional challenge to their survival, but we are still finding a significant number of frogs that are healthy and growing."

About 300 tadpoles were released into the wild. Of these, researchers estimate about 25 percent continue to survive. Currently, there are probably less than 200 individuals in the San Gabriel, San Bernardino and San Jacinto mountains, where they once thrived.

That said, the new survey does show that these amphibians are learning to adapt in their environment. Even with the harsh drought that's currently plaguing the region, the frogs are managing to hold on and survive. Yet it will take some times before conservationists are sure that this species has a firm foothold in the region. Until then, the populations will have to be monitored closely in order to make sure that extinction isn't back on the menu.