Neither Frogs Nor Sunsets Should Be Taken for Granted

From: WTIP
Series: Points North
Length: 05:46

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced Endangered Species Act protection is not warranted for the northern leopard frog in 19 states, including Minnesota. While this may not be a surprise to some, for Shawn, it’s a reminder that when it comes to wildlife, we cannot take for granted what we have today. In this edition of Points North, Shawn reminds us that it is important to learn from population declines, no matter what species is at risk. Read the full description.

Piece Audio

Playing: Neither Frogs Nor Sunsets Should Be Taken for Granted
From: WTIP

Northern_leopard_frog_by_andy_on_flickr_small

Shawn Perich is a volunteer producer at WTIP North Shore Community Radio. Each week, he shares his perspectives through Points North.

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Piece Description

Shawn Perich is a volunteer producer at WTIP North Shore Community Radio. Each week, he shares his perspectives through Points North.

Transcript

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced Endangered Species Act protection is not warranted for the northern leopard frog in 19 states, including Minnesota. The decision was based on a 2006 petition to protect leopard frogs in the western U.S., where their numbers have greatly declined. Although testing showed some genetic differences among northern leopard frog populations across their range, the Service concluded that a frog is a frog. Northern leopard frogs remain common enough in the eastern U.S. to preclude Endangered Species protection.

Be that as it may, the fact the Service even considered Endangered Species protection for northern leopard frogs ought to be big news, because they are (or were) one of the most common amphibians in the northern U.S. A medium-sized green or brown frog with black spots, the leopard frog is likely to be seen near water or grassy areas. T...
Read the full transcript

Intro and Outro

INTRO:

Shawn Perich is a volunteer producer at WTIP North Shore Community Radio, who shares his perspectives on conservation and the outdoors in Northern Minnesota. In this edition of Points North, Shawn analyzes the recent decision to not grant Endangered Species Act protection to the Northern Leopard Frog, and reminds us that it is important to learn from population declines, no matter what species is at risk.

OUTRO:

That was Shawn Perich, with WTIP North Shore Community Radio, online at wtip.org. Support for this feature comes from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.