YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK – More than 16,000 invasive American bullfrogs have been removed from Yosemite National Park, thanks to an astounding six year effort, which is also helping to restore the population of the native Northwestern pond turtle.
American bullfrogs were first document in the California park in 1955 at The Ahwahnee Hotel’s reflection pond. They eat pretty much anything that will fit in their mouths, including small birds, fish, reptiles, and baby turtles. The bullfrogs were killing all of the young Northwestern pond turtles in the park and have essentially wiped them out of Yosemite Valley.
The research team removed bullfrogs about 40 miles north of the valley, and those locations have been transformed into havens for native species, with turtle hatchlings and juveniles swimming freely once again. It’ll be hard—if not impossible—to eradicate the bullfrogs, but controlling their population may be key to keeping native species around.
NATIONAL PARK NEWS
