Reptiles and Amphibians of California's Journal

Journal archives for June 2017

June 6, 2017

Scientists Track Endangered Sea Turtles In San Diego Bay.

Seminoff works at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla, and he has spent years tracking the sea turtles in the bay.

“There are a lot more dead turtles showing up in San Diego Bay than we’d like,” Seminoff said.

He finds that concerning.

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2017/may/31/scientists-track-endangered-sea-turtles-san-diego-/

Posted on June 6, 2017 05:03 AM by biohexx1 biohexx1 | 0 comments | Leave a comment

June 13, 2017

Grab your earplugs. Invasive coqui frogs gain foothold in California.

Now the coqui has arrived in California. With few, and relatively small infestations, California should act immediately to eradicate this destructive invasive species. The coqui may look innocent, and even sound sweet to some, but its brief history in Hawaii tells a tragic story of how delayed action can have devastating consequences for biodiversity and human well-being.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/grab-earplugs-invasive-coqui-frogs-gain-foothold-california/

Posted on June 13, 2017 04:29 AM by biohexx1 biohexx1 | 1 comment | Leave a comment

June 17, 2017

Federal Recovery Plan for California Salamander Seeks to Protect 400,000 Acres.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today released a final recovery plan for the threatened central California population of the California tiger salamander, calling for protection of 400,000 acres of breeding ponds and adjacent uplands.

https://yubanet.com/california/federal-recovery-plan-for-california-salamander-seeks-to-protect-400000-acres/

Posted on June 17, 2017 11:06 AM by biohexx1 biohexx1 | 0 comments | Leave a comment

June 21, 2017

Vista scientist helps unlock genome for threatened tortoise.

Plodding through the desert with a rounded shell and stumpy legs, a desert tortoise can live an estimated 50 to 80 years. It’s native to parts of California, Arizona , Nevada , Utah and Baja, Mexico, and specializes in digging long burrows where it spends most of its time.

The species has existed for 15 to 20 million years, according to the National Park Service. But loss of habitat and disease have wiped out parts of its population, and the desert tortoise is now listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act, and ranked as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Genetic analysis has become an increasingly important resource in scientists’ toolkit for studying and reversing that decline.

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/environment/sd-me-desert-tortoise-20170619-story.html

Posted on June 21, 2017 12:31 AM by biohexx1 biohexx1 | 0 comments | Leave a comment

June 22, 2017

California Protects Rare Foothill Yellow-legged Frog.

The California Fish and Game Commission voted on Wednesday to advance the foothill yellow-legged frog as a candidate species under the California Endangered Species Act, responding to a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity.

http://goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/index.php/news/local-news/10190-california-protects-rare-foothill-yellow-legged-frog

Posted on June 22, 2017 04:45 PM by biohexx1 biohexx1 | 0 comments | Leave a comment

June 28, 2017

A campaign to eliminate plastic straws is sucking in thousands of converts.

They have been found wedged in the nose of a sea turtle, littering the stomachs of countless dead marine animals and scattered across beaches with tons of other plastics.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/a-campaign-to-eliminate-plastic-straws-is-sucking-in-thousands-of-converts/2017/06/24/d53f70cc-4c5a-11e7-9669-250d0b15f83b_story.html?utm_term=.efe85ebaaa91

Posted on June 28, 2017 04:32 AM by biohexx1 biohexx1 | 0 comments | Leave a comment

June 29, 2017

Rare blue-green bullfrog spotted in California.

American bullfrogs usually come in earthy shades of green and brown, so the sight of a bright turquoise frog sitting on the bank of California's Shasta Lake took wildlife biologist and photographer Jim Wiegand quite by surprise.

https://www.earthtouchnews.com/in-the-field/backyard-wildlife/rare-blue-green-bullfrog-spotted-in-california/

Posted on June 29, 2017 12:32 PM by biohexx1 biohexx1 | 0 comments | Leave a comment