Introduction

We’re excited to share that SAVE THE FROGS! has officially submitted a public comment in support of the proposed rule to ban predator control across America’s National Wildlife Refuges. This step is vital for the protection of our amphibian friends and the preservation of biological diversity and environmental health. Join us in celebrating this significant action towards conserving the natural habitats that are crucial for frogs and other wildlife. ?? Learn more and submit your comment here.

Official Comment, Submitted March 11th, 2024

“Dear Assistant Secretary Shannon Estenoz,

On behalf of SAVE THE FROGS!, I write to express our wholehearted support for the proposed rule, National Wildlife Refuge System; Biological Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental Health (89 FR 7345), particularly regarding the ban on predator control within our nation’s cherished National Wildlife Refuges. This initiative aligns perfectly with our mission to ensure the survival and flourishing of amphibian populations, a critical component of ecological diversity and environmental health.

Predator control practices not only undermine the natural balance but also jeopardize the very species we aim to protect, including various amphibian species that play essential roles in their ecosystems as indicators of environmental health and as key players in the food web. The indiscriminate nature of traps and snares, along with other harmful methods such as aerial gunning and hounding, disrupts natural processes and causes unnecessary suffering to both target and non-target species, including our precious frogs and other amphibians.

We commend the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s foresight in proposing a rule that upholds the principles of biological integrity, diversity, and environmental health. By banning predator control, we protect the natural predators that help maintain healthy ecosystems, which in turn supports amphibian populations and contributes to the control of pests and the spread of diseases.

Furthermore, we believe that our national wildlife refuges should serve as sanctuaries where all species, including amphibians, can thrive without the threat of harmful human interventions. These refuges should be bastions of biodiversity, where natural processes are allowed to unfold, providing essential habitats for frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts, and ensuring their contribution to our ecosystems continues unabated.

In closing, SAVE THE FROGS! fully endorses the proposed rule to ban predator control across America’s National Wildlife Refuges. We also urge the inclusion of specific measures to protect amphibians and all native carnivores from activities that compromise their existence and the ecological balance of these critical habitats.

Thank you for considering our views on this pivotal issue. We look forward to the implementation of this rule, marking a significant step forward in the conservation of our nation’s wildlife and the habitats that support them.

Sincerely,
Kerry Kriger, Ph.D.
SAVE THE FROGS!
Founder, Executive Director & Ecologist”