2/8/2000 724

PETITION FILED TO LIST SIERRA NEVADA POPULATION OF THE MOUNTAIN YELLOW-LEGGED FROG AS ENDANGERED

On 2-8-00 the Center for Biological Diversity and the Pacific Rivers Council filed a formal petition to list the Sierra Nevada mountain yellow- legged frog (Rana muscosa) as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Formerly one of the most common amphibians in the high Sierra lakes and streams, the yellow-legged frog has declined precipitously due to stocking of non-native fish, pesticide drift from Central Valley agribusiness, over grazing and habitat loss. It has declined by up to 90%, with only a few dozen large populations remaining. Two of the largest known populations crashed dramatically in the past few years, going from over 2,000 adults in 1996 to only 2 in 1999.

An Adobe Acrobat version of the petition is available at: http://www.sw-center.org/swcbd/news.html