Birch Aquarium Leaps Into Frog Conservation to Save the Endangered Mountain Yellow-legged Frog!

La Jolla, CA (March 20, 2025)—A new conservation chapter begins for Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego as it hops into action to help save the endangered Mountain Yellow-legged Frog. The aquarium joins ongoing efforts to raise and recover this native California frog species.

“Birch Aquarium is proud to join this collaborative effort to help save a species that desperately needs our help,” said Sean Bruce, Assistant Curator of Fishes and Invertebrates. “This issue hits us close to home, so we’re excited to make a meaningful, positive impact on wild frog populations.”

To help ensure this species’ survival, several government agencies, institutions within the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, universities, and additional partners are working together to raise and release these frogs into the wild.* The ultimate goal is to hopefully downlist or delist Mountain Yellow-Legged Frogs as an endangered species by enhancing the genetic diversity of both captive and wild populations, optimizing reintroduction efforts, increasing wild frog populations, and more!

“We have a responsibility as experts in animal husbandry, conservation, and science to work to protect, understand, and connect our communities with animals in need,” said Jenn Nero, Chief Animal Care, Science and Conservation Officer. “By collaborating with others, we aim to help the survivability of these important indicator species.”