Summary
Researchers are working to bring back the California red-legged frog, which is considered threatened. They used artificial intelligence (AI) to listen for the frogs' calls, and this year, they finally heard the frogs in the wild in San Diego County for the first time in 25 years.
Key Facts
- The California red-legged frog is the largest native frog species west of the Rocky Mountains.
- It is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
- Frog eggs were moved from Baja California in Mexico to Southern California to reintroduce the species.
- Over five years, 87 egg masses were moved to help the frogs return to their historic range.
- AI technology helped researchers detect the frogs by analyzing audio recordings.
- The frogs were heard in the wild in San Diego County for the first time in 25 years.
- The frogs were once a common food source and were mentioned in a famous story by Mark Twain.
