The Houston Toad

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Recommended: Loss of biodiversity due to habitat loss

“He estimated there are fewer than 500 adult toads in Bastrop County, and only as many as 2,000 of the adult toads overall”(Price Asher).The Houston toad population has massively decreased over the decades and there may be a negative impact if it goes extinct. Many factors have endangered the Houston toad and while there are many ways to save it, restoring their habitat is the most effective.
First and foremost, the Houston toad, or Anaxyrus houstonensis, is an endangered species and it has some important features. To start with, it is a nocturnal organism spending its daytime in burrows and feeding primarily on ground beetles at night. (It has been known to eat smaller toads and ants.) They are around two to four inches long and its color …show more content…

The toads looking alike can be negative to this amphibian’s survival because people confuse them and think that the Houston toad is not actually endangered.(“Houston Toad vs. Gulf Coast Toad”) It is restricted to specific environments meaning it has very little land here in Texas to live. Since this toad moves by making short hops, it prevents it from escaping predators. It’s downfall also comes because of habitat fragmentation meaning “...transforming large habitat patches into smaller, more isolated fragments of habitat.” Invasive species also come into play such as the fire ant, they eat juvenile toads decreasing the population even more. Fires have burned thousands of acres in Bastrop State Park destroying the toad’s main home. Not only have humans affected the Houston toad, other animals and natural disasters have …show more content…

The Houston zoo has released 600,000 of Houston toad eggs, they already have a link in their website to donate but it is not enough money. There should be posters all around the zoo therefore getting more donations since more people are aware. With this money, groups of people can be built where they will go in the burned areas of Bastrop State Park and rebuild it by planting hundreds of seedlings. Additionally, the funding would be directed to research for a way to stop erosion since it’s making the forest floor weaker. Also, landowners living in the Houston toad’s habitat should be forced to abide to the Safe Harbor Agreement(Najvar Paige). This has to be passed so that private landowners can take care of the toad and its environment. In addition, laws should reserve parts of Texas where the toads can live in therefore expanding their environment. Although the Houston toad is in danger of extinction, many things can be done to fix their

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