The Endangered Arroyo Toad: How is It Doing?

Clayton Creed

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Ventura, CA

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ABSTRACT

CREED, CLAYTON
US Fish & Wildlife Service, Ventura, CA, creed_clayton@fws.gov

The Endangered Arroyo Toad: How is It Doing

The arroyo toad was listed as endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act in 1994 because research showed it had been extirpated from approximately 75% of previously occupied habitat. Although a number of drainages containing arroyo toads had been identified at that time, only eight were thought to contain viable populations. Since it was listed, a few previously undetected arroyo toad populations have been located and a number of threats to the species have been addressed. However, other populations appear to have been extirpated or turned out to be misidentified toads of another species. About one half of the approximately 30 currently known arroyo toad populations appear relatively secure in the near term. Many areas occupied by the arroyo toad are protected to a large degree; however, there are also areas vulnerable to expanding human pressures where some level of habitat degradation continues to occur.