NEWS

USDA PROVIDES NEARLY $300,000 TO PROTECT TOAD HABITAT

USDA recently announced that the Pennsylvania Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will receive $275,000 to help restore and protect one of only two known sites statewide that are confirmed to support the eastern spadefoot toad, a state endangered species.

Pennsylvania NRCS is collaborating with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC), the Degenstein Foundation, and the Milton Area Development Association, the current Landowner. PFBC intends to purchase the property and transfer to NRCS a permanent Wetlands Reserve Program easement. This easement will protect 157 acres of spadefoot toad habitat from development, and ultimately protect their population.

This project is a priority to the partners involved because planned land development activities on the project site will permanently destroy both upland and wetland habitat critical to the life-cycle needs of the spadefoot toad. Proposed roads, buildings, and supporting infrastructure will kill spadefoot toads known to inhabit the property.

The proposed project will also restore and protect an open meadow and unnamed stream and various emergent and forested wetlands that drain from the property into Montandon Marsh, a relict sand dune ecosystem with state listed plants and birds. Thus, the project is critical to the maintenance of ecosystem connectivity between the Montandon Marsh, the project area, and adjacent areas. Furthermore, the eastern hognose snake is known from the Montandon area, and a spotted turtle has been documented in the project area. Although neither of these species have formal listing status, they are both considered “at risk” and are included on the PFBC’s no take list which took effect January 1, 2007. Both species are also considered “species of special concern” as part of the State Wildlife Action Plan. This project will preserve open space, and provide non-consumptive outdoor recreational opportunities in an area under serious development pressure.

The eastern spadefoot toad ranges from southern New England to the Florida Keys and west to Eastern Louisiana. The eastern spadefoot toad is a highly secretive, nocturnal amphibian with a plump and stout body, relatively smooth skin, bright yellow eyes, and crescent shaped high feet characterized by black, sharp-edged spade like projections. The unique foot design allows the species to burrow quickly underground (up to depths of 3 feet) to escape predators and hibernate during periods of unfavorable environmental conditions. Wetlands are critical for the toads, as reproduction occurs underwater.