KGUN 9News

Actions

Game and Fish releases Chiricahua leopard frogs

Posted at 12:52 PM, Oct 24, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-24 15:56:47-04

The Arizona Game and Fish Department released hundreds of threatened Chiricahua leopard frogs near Duncan and Morenci in order to bolster the population.

The Phoenix Zoo, Arizona Center for Nature Conservation, Bureau of Land Management New Mexico and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service were among agencies that took part in the project.

The frog nearly vanished from eastern Arizona due to habitat degradation, AGFD biologist Audrey Owens said.

Ranchers and agencies worked to restore their wetland habitats last year, giving the new frogs a chance to survive.