June 25, 2025
ISSUE 26
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A Leap forward
Endangered frogs hit survival milestone By Northwest Trek Wildlife Park PORTLAND, Ore., and EATONVILLE, Wash. — For the first time, biologists have documented zoo-reared northern leopard frogs surviving a winter in the wild at the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge in Eastern Washington — despite the presence of invasive American bullfrogs that nearly wiped them out. Thanks to targeted bullfrog control, some of the northern leopard frogs released last August by the Oregon Zoo and Northwest Trek Wildlife Park are surviving, an important turning point in the recovery of this endangered species. “This is great news,” said Jen Osburn Eliot, who oversees the Oregon Zoo’s frog-rearing efforts. “We care for these frogs at the zoo until they’re big enough to return to the wild, but without efforts to control the invasive bullfrog population they wouldn’t survive. This is a strong indicator that those efforts are working.” "This is a major milestone for our effort to save northern leopard frogs in Washington,” said Marc Heinzman, conservation manager at Northwest Trek. “Caring for and protecting nature is work that must be done collaboratively to succeed, and this project shows we can make a real impact when we work together.” While it’s good news that the frogs survived the winter,
there’s still work to be done. “Reintroductions like this are notoriously challenging, and there’s no guarantee of success,” said Patricia Valcarcel, a herpetologist at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. “But these first documented survivors represent hope for the recovery of the species.” According to Valcarcel, wildlife officials are continuing to coordinate on bullfrog control efforts and improving bullfrog and predator assessments when screening potential new release sites. “This is a reminder of how much an invasive species can affect native wildlife,” Valcarcel said. “We need to keep working together to get bullfrog numbers down and northern
PHOTOS COURTESY NORTHWEST TREK WILDLIFE PARK
leopard frog numbers up.” Once abundant throughout North America, northern leopard frogs are rapidly disappearing from their native ranges in Washington, Oregon and western Canada. In Washington,
where the zoo-reared froglets were found, the species has been listed as endangered since 1999 and only one known population remains. The American bullfrog, native to the eastern United States but considered invasive here, is the largest frog species on the continent. It can tip the scales at more than a pound and has been driving northern leopard frogs and a host of other small, vulnerable aquatic species to
FROGS, 5
Cruiser athletes honored in 2A SPSL AllLeague awards By Skip Smith Contributing Writer
The 2A South Puget Sound League released its list of spring All-League award winners, recognizing student-athletes and coaches who delivered standout performances across the season. From track to fastpitch, baseball to tennis, the honors highlight the depth of talent that came through in big moments this spring. ■ Track and field had some of the league’s most consistent competitors this season. Ethan Carter and Kelani Monserrate earned First Team honors after turning in strong performances meet after meet. Whether it was on the track or in field events, both athletes were leaders for their teams and kept racking up results. Ava Tatro was named to the Second Team, showing her versatility and reliability throughout the season. Her hard work didn’t go unnoticed by coaches around the league. ■ Fastpitch saw a spread of talent earn recognition. Grace Field (infield) and Kaitlynn Kenney (outfield) were named to the Second Team for their steady contributions on both offense and defense. Honorable Mentions went to Ava Tvedt, Amy Tozer, and Morgan Laird, who each made key impacts in different roles. Whether it was making tough plays in the field or coming through at the plate, this group gave their teams a boost all season long. ■ Baseball’s Second Team included Ethan Evans at first base and Ben Smith at third base. Both players were key pieces for their teams—Evans with his glove and bat, Smith with steady play at the corner and leadership on the field. Honorable Mentions went to Santiago Ruvalcaba, Brody Thirtyacre, and Colton Herbrand, all of whom stepped up in big ways. Their energy and execution helped keep their teams competitive down the stretch. ■ The girls tennis team had a season packed with highlights, and the All-League list shows it. Head coach Alex Christensen was named Coach of the Year after guiding his squad to an impressive campaign. Bailey Andersen took home Singles Player of the Year, a well-earned award after a dominant season. Amelia Ferreira landed on the Second Team Singles list, adding to the team’s overall recognition. In doubles play, two pairs earned First Team honors: Lillian Bickford and Alayna Meyer, along with Tia Schanbeck and Tierney Amaral. Both duos delivered key wins and brought great chemistry to the court. Isabel Volk and Megan Blake were recognized on the Second Team Doubles, rounding out a team that showed both depth and talent all season.