Wyoming Toad
A toad that vanished from Earth — and lives on in human hands
No photo available for Wyoming Toad
Population
Extinct in the wild since 1994; maintained at several breeding facilities
Location
Albany County, Wyoming, USA
Overview
The Wyoming toad was once common in the floodplains around Laramie, Wyoming. By 1994, every wild individual was gone. The last 10 surviving toads were collected and placed in captive breeding programs, which have maintained the species ever since. Annual reintroduction attempts continue, but the chytrid fungus that likely caused the collapse is still present in the wild habitat, making recovery extraordinarily difficult.
Why they're at risk
- !
Chytridiomycosis — a fungal disease caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) — is thought to be the primary cause of the wild collapse and continues to prevent successful reintroduction.
- !
Habitat loss from agriculture and water diversion in the Laramie Basin eliminated much of the toad's original range.
- !
Pesticide use in the agricultural landscape surrounding the toad's habitat affects water quality and insect prey availability.
- !
The extremely small genetic pool from the original 10 survivors limits the long-term viability of the captive population.
Reasons for hope
- ✓
The captive population has been maintained for over 30 years, keeping the species biologically alive.
- ✓
Research into Bd-resistant strains and probiotic treatments offers potential pathways to surviving reintroduction.
- ✓
Annual releases of captive-bred toads continue, with researchers monitoring survival rates and adjusting methods.
- ✓
The Wyoming toad's story has become a landmark case study in amphibian conservation, driving research that benefits hundreds of other threatened frog and toad species worldwide.