Florida Salamander Populations Plummet Amid Habitat Loss, Staff Cuts

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The Center for Biological Diversity has launched a lawsuit against the Trump administration for violations of the Endangered Species Act affecting frosted flatwoods salamanders.

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Protected salamander breeding ponds at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge were mowed and sprayed with toxic herbicides during breeding season in late 2024.

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Frosted flatwoods salamander populations have crashed from 25 in 1999 to just nine by 2015, prompting biologists to recommend upgrading their status to "endangered."

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Recent firing of 420 Fish and Wildlife Service staff has further weakened conservation efforts for the rare amphibians.

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These black salamanders with distinctive gray cross-banded patterns spend most of their lives underground, only emerging during winter rains to breed.

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The lawsuit claims wildlife officials failed to complete required consultations to ensure activities wouldn't destroy critical salamander habitat.

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We're ready to stand up for the frosties if the Trump administration doesn't take its job seriously," said Elise Bennett from the Center for Biological Diversity.

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Climate change impacts, including extended droughts and powerful hurricanes, pose additional threats to the salamanders' shrinking habitat.

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