Save Nevada's Tiny Desert Gem from Doom
1,568 signatures toward our 30,000 Goal
Sponsor: The Animal Rescue Site
The tiny Railroad Valley toad faces giant threats from industrial expansion, teetering on the brink of extinction. Take action now!
In the vast, arid landscapes of Nevada's Railroad Valley, a tiny yet significant creature faces an existential threat. The Railroad Valley toad, identified as a unique species in 2020, now stands on the brink of extinction.
This toad's survival is not just a matter of preserving a single species but a critical component of maintaining the biodiversity that sustains our planet.
A Habitat Under Siege
The Railroad Valley toad calls a mere 445 acres of spring-fed wetlands home. This isolated haven, nestled within Lockes Ranch, is the toad's only known habitat. But this sanctuary is under siege from the relentless expansion of oil and gas extraction and the looming threat of lithium mining projects. These industrial activities risk depleting and contaminating the groundwater that feeds the wetlands, jeopardizing the delicate ecosystem that supports the toad12.
The Plight of the Toad
The Railroad Valley toad is one of the smallest members of its genus, characterized by its distinctive coloration and lack of an advertisement call—a rarity among toads. Its life cycle, intimately tied to the marshlands fed by local springs, is a marvel of adaptation to the harsh desert environment. Yet, this adaptation also makes the toad incredibly vulnerable to changes in its habitat2.
Conservation on the Line
The Center for Biological Diversity has taken a stand, launching a lawsuit to compel the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide the protections the Railroad Valley toad desperately needs under the Endangered Species Act. Despite a petition filed in 2022, the Service has yet to act, leaving the toad in limbo and its future uncertain3.
The Call to Action
We stand at a critical juncture. The Railroad Valley toad's plight highlights the broader crisis facing our planet's biodiversity. Protecting this toad is not just about saving a single species but about upholding our responsibility to preserve the intricate web of life upon which we all depend.
Your voice can make a difference. By signing the petition, you are not just advocating for the Railroad Valley toad; you are championing the cause of conservation and biodiversity. You are sending a clear message that the balance of our ecosystem, the preservation of unique species, and the health of our planet are priorities that demand immediate action.
Take Action Now
Join us in calling on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to extend Endangered Species Act protections to the Railroad Valley toad. Sign the petition today and be part of the movement to ensure a brighter, more sustainable future for all living beings.
- Krista Kemppinen, The Center for Biological Diversity (15 May 2023), "Lawsuit Launched to Protect Nevada’s Railroad Valley Toad."
- Herpedia (2024), "Railroad Valley Toad (Anaxyrus nevadensis)."
- Krista Kemppinen, The Center for Biological Diversity (12 April 2022), "Endangered Species Act Protection Sought for Nevada’s Railroad Valley Toad."
The Petition:
To the Director of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service,
We, the undersigned, call upon your esteemed agency to urgently extend protections under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to the Railroad Valley toad (Anaxyrus nevadensis), a species facing an imminent threat of extinction.
Discovered in 2020, the Railroad Valley toad is confined to a singular, fragile habitat in Nevada's Railroad Valley, spanning merely 445 acres. This unique amphibian, distinguished by its brownish-gray coloration and critical role in the local ecosystem, is now perilously close to extinction due to encroaching industrial activities, notably oil and gas extraction and a proposed lithium mining project. These activities not only risk the depletion of essential groundwater resources but also threaten the delicate balance of the toad's spring-fed wetland habitat.
The urgency of this situation cannot be overstated. The Railroad Valley toad's plight is emblematic of the broader crisis facing biodiversity across the globe, particularly amphibians. Extending ESA protections would not only safeguard this species from further harm but also underscore our commitment to preserving the intricate web of life that sustains our planet's health and diversity.
Protecting the Railroad Valley toad is a crucial step in our ongoing efforts to conserve endangered species and their habitats. By granting this species the protections it desperately needs, we can ensure a brighter, more sustainable future for all living beings. We implore the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to act swiftly to secure the survival of the Railroad Valley toad, thereby reaffirming our collective responsibility to protect our planet's irreplaceable natural heritage.
Sincerely,
