Amphibians

FILE - A Dixie Valley toad sits atop grass in Dixie Valley, Nev., on April 6, 2009. The tiny Nevada toad at the center of a legal battle over a geothermal project has officially been declared an endangered species after U.S. wildlife officials temporarily listed it on a rarely-used emergency basis in the spring of 2022. The spectacled, quarter-sized amphibian "is currently at risk of extinction throughout its range primarily due to the approval and commencement of geothermal development," the service said. Other threats to the toad include groundwater pumping, agriculture, climate change, disease and predation from bullfrogs. (Matt Maples/Nevada Department of Wildlife via AP, File)

Nevada toad in geothermal power fight gets endangered status

A tiny Nevada toad at the center of a legal battle over a geothermal project has officially been declared an endangered species.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz holds his head as he looks through paperwork during the penalty phase of Cruz's trial at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. Cruz previously plead guilty to all 17 counts of premeditated murder and 17 counts of attempted murder in the 2018 shootings. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel via AP, Pool)

Neighbor: School shooter killed toads after 1 poisoned dog

In this July 23, 2019 photo, Jim Andrews, a University of Vermont herpetology lecturer, holds a young northern leopard frog in Salisbury, Vt. A wet spring has resulted in a 100-fold increase in the population of the particular frog in a region of Vermont. (AP Photo/Lisa Rathke)

Frog population explodes in region of Vermont

An Oophaga histrionica small red head stands at the “Tesoros de Colombia” frog breeding center in Cundinamarca, Colombia, Tuesday, April 23, 2019. When raised in captivity the histrionicas are no longer poisonous, because they have a different diet than wild specimens. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Colombian breeds rare frogs to undermine animal traffickers

‘Snot otter’ named Pennsylvania’s official amphibian

Wildlife officials warn of invasive frogs in Washington

ISSAQUAH, Wash. (AP) — An invasive species is consuming and competing with native species in western Washington, including salmon.

Volunteers help salamanders, frogs cross the road safely

BOSTON (AP) — Residents of one Massachusetts town are helping some local amphibians get where they need to be this mating season.

Ivey OKs naming sweet potato as Alabama’s state vegetable

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama now has an official state vegetable: the sweet potato.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey’s office said Friday that the governor signed the bill naming the sweet potato as the official state vegetable.

Eastern hellbender voted Pennsylvania’s official amphibian

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania is getting an official amphibian, a nocturnal, unsightly salamander that’s sometimes known as a snot otter, lasagna lizard or mud devil.

A ribbit of hope: Panama frogs hop back after nasty disease

WASHINGTON (AP) — After years of silence, the rhythmic dee-dee-deeps of frogs and toads are returning in parts of Panama.

Beware of amphibians

MONTPELIER, Vt. -

The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife is warning drivers of seasonal frog and salamander migrations.

Detroit Zoo’s own Dr. Ruth encourages amorous amphibians

ROYAL OAK, Mich. (AP) — Dr. Ruth is bringing her sex-pertise to the Detroit Zoo.

Not to be confused with famed human sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Dr.

Park shuts road to keep mating amphibians from being crushed

EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. (AP) — The National Park Service has been closing a road in Pennsylvania so mating amphibians don’t get squashed by vehicles as they seek out mates.

In this Dec. 3, 2016 photo, a man holds a rare frog that hasn't been seen in decades, in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The Artholeptis troglodytes, also known as the “cave squeaker” because of its preferred habitat, was discovered in 1962 but there were no reported sightings of the elusive amphibian after that. An international “red list” of threatened species tagged them as critically endangered and possibly extinct. (AP Photo/ Francois Becker)

The cave squeaker returns: Rare frog seen after decades

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — The cave squeaker is back.

Researchers in Zimbabwe say they have found a rare frog that hasn’t been seen in decades.

Ilah Hickman poses for a photo with a young Idaho giant salamander at the Idaho state Capitol in Boise, Idaho, on Monday, Jan, 19, 2015. Idaho lawmakers worried that special recognition of the Idaho giant salamander could lead to federal protections have rejected a grade school student's request that it be named the state amphibian. The House State Affairs Committee voted against Hickman's plan. It was her fifth attempt in as many years to persuade lawmakers that students made a good choice for state amphibian. (AP Photo/The Spokesman-Review, Betsy Z. Russell)

Idaho salamander bill squashed over federal overreach fears

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho lawmakers worried that special recognition of the Idaho giant salamander could lead to federal protections have rejected a grade school student’s request that it be named the state amphibian.