Story perspectives

Scientists Headstart Frosted Salamander Eggs Amid Endangered Push

5/28/2026

Summary

Story summary

Nicole Dahrouge and JJ Apodaca began raising frosted salamander eggs in a headstarting program.
The Fish and Wildlife Service listed the salamanders as threatened in 1999 and split the species.
A 2019 review recommended upgrading them to endangered status, but the agency has not reclassified the frosted salamander.
Eggs are stored damp then raised in cattle-tank mesocosms fed wetland arthropods to release salamanders, mirroring the California condor headstarting effort.

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Story summary

Nicole Dahrouge and JJ Apodaca began raising frosted salamander eggs in a headstarting program.
The Fish and Wildlife Service listed the salamanders as threatened in 1999 and split the species.
A 2019 review recommended upgrading them to endangered status, but the agency has not reclassified the frosted salamander.
Eggs are stored damp then raised in cattle-tank mesocosms fed wetland arthropods to release salamanders, mirroring the California condor headstarting effort.