An effort to boost Colorado's population of the state-endangered boreal toad species continues, with the release of more than 2,200 tadpoles in remote Colorado.
The recent release is the result of an initiative that started in 2021 involving the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. This initiative involved wildlife officials utilizing 95 adult toads from Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Native Aquatic Species Restoration Facility in Alamosa for breeding and nurturing offspring for release.
According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the tadpoles were released on June 20, with crews trekking into remote wetlands near Creede in southwest Colorado to do so.
While boreal toads were once common in montane habitats around the state between 7,000 and 12,000 feet of elevation, habitat loss and infection by the chytrid fungus has resulted in rapid population decline. It's believed that as few as 800 wild adult boreal toads are left in Colorado.
“Consistent propagation of boreal toads in captivity has been the major missing link in our conservation efforts," said CPW biologist Daniel Cammack. "In the past, we relied solely on collecting fertilized eggs from wild populations to grow into tadpoles at the hatchery and stock at translocation sites. Thanks to the Zoo’s expertise and hard work, we are able to increase our capacity and get more toads out at more locations. This is a critical partnership that we hope will translate to an increase in populations of this unique amphibian across our state.”
This larger release follows the release of 600 boreal toad tadpoles in 2022. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has been dedicating significant resources toward boreal toad research for more than 30 years.
The effort to repopulate the species in Colorado is expected to be ongoing for many years to come.
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