Wyoming Toad Trip!

[n321]

Hey everyone! So a couple weeks ago I went down to Laramie, WY to do some volunteer work for the FWS with the Wyoming Toad. Thought I'd share some of the pictures...

Mostly I was helping to survey the toads to get an idea of the health of the population. I also visited a couple of the breeding facilities and helped a graduate student with a project she was doing. Any questions, feel free to ask...

[Mentat]

Very interesting lab set-up for the Toads. Like that salamander(?) in first pic lots. Thanks for the share !

[lindsayshocking]

Wow, that's awesome! I remember seeing a posting to help those guys a few months back. If I had the ability to get to Wyoming I would have been there in a heartbeat! How are the Wyoming Toads doing? Last I checked they were Extinct in the Wild...are they getting released back into the wild? What are captive breeding facilities like?

Sorry for all the questions...this just really fascinates me. Also...helping endangered toads? EXCELLENT!

[n321]

No I'm glad that there are people who actually care about this

Yes, the toad is still technically extinct in the wild. They've been releasing them into the wild, but in order for it to be de-listed, they need to witness at least 5 breeding pairs for 5 consecutive years (there have only been a few that have bred in the wild).

Honestly, I wasn't super impressed with the breeding facilities. A big part of the problem is just lack of funding. But yeah they were very simplistic and not very clean imo.

If you want to help, you can donate on the website or sign up for volunteering (that's the only way you can see the toads as the wildlife sanctuary is closed to the public).

Here's the website:
The Wyoming Toad Species Survival Plan

Yeah,lindsayshocking, it was really cool being a part of all this and just being able to see the toad...it might not be around in the future...

[lindsayshocking]

Thank you for responding!

I have been following the Houston Toad on Facebook. I believe they've been a tad bit luckier because they get more attention thus more funding. It's really awful that these toads are having these problems in the first place.

It's sad that they can't even keep it clean. As someone with more toads than any human should, their substrate and set ups really aren't all that expensive. You would think that when it comes to a critically endangered animal that would be the one thing they'd be more on top of. I hope that some day I will have the funds and means to make it out to Wyoming. Hopefully if I can get into Grad School I might be able to get some support from the university I go to. I have a sixth sense when it comes to toads, I would know how to help them! I really can't get behind the thought that they could go extinct, but I am also aware of the biological implications of working with a limited population size :/

When I have some extra money I will donate to them. Maybe they should take the route the Houston Toad helpers have done?

[n321]

oh yeah? What route did they take?

[lindsayshocking]

https://www.facebook.com/houstontoad Social networking, of course! It at least spreads the word efficiently...

[n321]

Yeah down in Wyoming they really do not get conservation...a big part of the problem is just conflict amongst the different agencies and, as I said, funding. I think if you are serious about conservation, you NEED to involve the public. Most people do not even know this toad exists.

[MCCPC]

Hi, I live in Wyoming! Nope not a native. And yes this state can be pretty frustrating. I'd be happy to bring up the Wyoming Toad in my local & state Facebook groups to help spread the word. Unfortunately I'm pretty far from Laramie, but if I can ever get the time to drive down there I'd be happy to put in some volunteer hours with whatever they need. I absolutely love toads!