Govind Tekale
The Center for Biological Diversity filed a petition Wednesday asking California to protect the western spadefoot under the state’s Endangered Species Act. Despite being commonly called a toad, this small amphibian with big eyes and a wedge-shaped “spade” on each hind foot is actually a type of frog that was once common throughout California.
“Western spadefoots need high quality grasslands or shrublands connected to seasonal breeding pools to survive,” said Sofia Prado-Irwin, a scientist at the Center. “Their habitat is disappearing by the day, so California officials need to act.”
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing both the northern and southern distinct population segments as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, with a special 4(d) rule
These small frogs spend most of the year in underground burrows, emerging during rainy periods to breed in vernal pools – seasonal wetlands that fill with rainwater for part of the year. Up to 95% of California’s historic vernal pools have been lost statewide, and about 75% in the Central Valley, due to urban development, agriculture, and roads.
Adult western spadefoots particularly vulnerable to roadkill when moving between breeding pools and upland habitats. Their tadpoles face additional risks when pools dry too quickly due to drought or altered water patterns.
“The risk of extinction for this species is all too real, but our Fish and Game Commission could help turn the tide,” Prado-Irwin noted.
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed federal protection for the species in December 2023, recommending both northern and southern populations be listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act with a special Section 4(d) rule. This rule would allow exceptions for activities like wildfire management and certain livestock practices that might have beneficial or minimal impacts on the species.
However, the federal proposal remains unresolved nearly two years later. The Center argues that state protection has become urgent due to ongoing weakening of federal environmental protections and recent changes to the Clean Water Act that make semi-aquatic species particularly vulnerable.
The petition asks California to protect the species’ entire range in the state, focusing on both breeding pools and the connected upland habitats needed for their survival. The California Fish and Game Commission will now review the petition to determine if state protection may be warranted.
Western spadefoots have experienced steep population declines for decades, with an estimated 30% population decline in northern California and the Central Valley, and an 80% decline in southern California due to more intensive development.
With climate change intensifying drought conditions and development continuing to fragment habitats, conservationists argue these unique amphibians need immediate state-level protection to ensure their long-term survival in California.
