Six toads raised at Loveland Living Planet Aquarium released to support Southern Utah’s native population

DRAPER, Utah (ABC4) — A native species of toad in Utah has been facing declining numbers, but recently, the

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Loveland Living Planet Aquarium and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) worked together to help the species out.

According to a press release from the aquarium, six Western toads that were raised by aquarium staff have been successfully released into the wild. Staff from the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium and DWR traveled to Southern Utah to “strengthen and diversify the existing population.”

Before they were released, the toads each received a small pit tag beneath the skin. These tags are used for monitoring and identifying the toads during surveys. The aquarium says that DWR staff have returned to the site since the toads were released, and reported that they are adapting well.

Western toads are part of the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium’s Discover Utah hall, and the parents of these six toads are still living in their habitat at the aquarium. Due to habitat loss and diseases like that from the chytrid fungus, Western toads have been experiencing “steep declines.”

Together, the aquarium and DWR are working to stop that decline and keep this toad species thriving in Utah. Loveland Living Planet Aquarium says that this is part of their mission to “inspire people to explore, discover, and learn about Earth’s diverse ecosystems while actively contributing to conservation.”