I was intrigued by this article in The Seattle Times yesterday about a program at the Cedar Creek Corrections Center (Washington state) where inmates are raising Oregon spotted frogs, an endangered species, in the prison. The inmates have stunned researchers because they have been more successful raising these frogs than the local zoos. They are taking care of the frogs under the auspices of the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife and nearby Evergreen State College (my nephew’s alma mater).
The inmates started with 80 Oregon spotted frog eggs in early April. As the eggs grew into tadpoles, then into frogs, they have been responsible for the frequent feedings and tank-water changes, and also for taking detailed notes for state researchers. One thousand frogs are estimated to be released into the wild this fall, which will help this struggling species.
Here’s more information about the Oregon Spotted frog from Herpetology Northwest. If you click on the photo below, you can hear the frog’s call.
Oregon Spotted Frog, copyright 1996, by William Leonard, AmphibiaWeb
Tags: Cedar Creek Corrections Center, endangered frog, Evergreen State College, Frog Conservation, Herpetology Northwest, inmates helping endangered frogs, Oregon spotted frogs, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife
