Birch Aquarium Joins the Fight to Save the Endangered Mountain Yellow-legged Frog

Birch Aquarium is taking a leap forward in frog conservation, working to protect the endangered Mountain Yellow-legged Frog, a species with fewer than 200 adults left in the wild.

By joining a collaborative recovery program, the aquarium is helping to raise and reintroduce these frogs to their native mountain habitats in Southern California.

A Critical Conservation Effort

In July 2024, Birch Aquarium welcomed over 200 tadpoles from the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA). In just a few weeks, they successfully transformed into frogs and are now being raised in an outdoor aquatic habitat designed to mimic their natural environment.

This marks a significant milestone in the effort to restore wild populations.

“We’re the only partner raising these frogs in an outdoor setting, which is pretty exciting,” said Sean Bruce, Assistant Curator of Fishes and Invertebrates. “Watching them develop into their vibrant bronze, orange, and yellow colors in natural sunlight has been incredible.”

Protecting a Species on the Brink

Habitat loss, climate change, and disease have devastated Mountain Yellow-legged Frog populations, making them one of California’s most at-risk amphibians. This program aims to increase genetic diversity, optimize reintroduction efforts, and ultimately remove the species from the endangered list.

Birch Aquarium hopes to release these frogs into the wild later this year, depending on environmental conditions in the wake of recent wildfires. While these amphibians remain behind the scenes for now, the aquarium is exploring a future exhibit to educate the public about their recovery.

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