the United States Department of the Interior

“ Prescribed fire and grazing have been used to save Wyoming toads. Studies show that the Wyoming toad requires pockets of warm, shallow water to breed. Ideally these ponds exist with a mosaic of grass and shrubland habitat containing sparse open areas for foraging and basking that are nearby denser vegetation for shade and protection from predation. Prescribed fire and grazing are part of a suite of management tools used to maintain such habitat and achieve self-sustaining populations and ultimately delist the species. ”

“ Wyoming toads are extremely rare and exist mostly in captivity. The Wyoming toad formerly lived in flood plain ponds and small seepage lakes in the shortgrass communities of the Laramie Basin. The species continues to face several threats, including chytridiomycosis, a fungal disease responsible for decimating North American amphibian populations. ”

“ Wyoming toads depend on wetlands for breeding. Captive breeding of the Wyoming toad has been ongoing since 1993 and now occurs at six zoos around the country as well as the University of Wyoming’s Red Buttes Biological Laboratory, Saratoga National Fish Hatchery and Leadville National Fish Hatchery. ”