How YOU can Help

What are others doing

The reservation sites which hold the last of the Santa Cruz Long-toed Salamanders are maintained by land trusts and non-profit organizations, which means that the preservation of these species costs nothing except for donations and volunteer time (U.S., 2004). These reservations protect the last of the salamanders, while also protecting oak woodlands, grasslands, and chaparral habitat from being developed and built over (Root, 2017).

Unfortunately, the non-profits do not have enough support to completely replenish the salamander’s population. With more donations, land, and positive reinforcement from the community surrounding the reservation, the salamander population would be able to grow and flourish to its past glory. Large areas of wetlands around San Francisco and Santa Cruz would also need to be restored and protected in order to give these wonderful creatures their necessary habitat back.

This is where YOU can step in. Many people already donate to these non-profit organizations in order to make an impact on the wellbeing and restoration of the salamanders; have you? If not, press here to see how you can help.

What the Government is doing

The Santa Cruz Long-toed Salamander was first protected by the Endangered Species Preservation Act in 1967 when it was put on the Endangered Species list (Root, 2017). In order to help these species, the National Wildlife Refuge System and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife created a 139-acre reservation called Ellicott Pond near Monterey Bay specifically for the salamanders. In 1997, two additional ponds (147-acres) called the Seascape Upland Preserve were created, and are now under permanent protection for the salamanders as well. Unfortunately, this still isn’t enough. These salamanders have stayed on the endangered species list since 1967, and have shown very little improvement.

What the Government is doing

These simple actions can make a huge impact on the safety and efficiency of the long-toed salamander’s restoration sites, and in turn, renew this species to a successful state (California, 2016). The restoration of these animals is a community operation and takes more than support from non-profits. We need your help!

Follow these easy steps to help the Salamanders!

Don't walk through wetlands. This can destroy habitat, and negatively affect the ecosystem
Protest development around wetlands.
Plant native plant species.
Donate to nonprofits who are focusing on the preservation of these species
Research your food. Try to buy local organic produce in order to diminish the carbon footprint of your diet.

Changes in the Government

In order to help preserve the endangered salamanders, the government needs to create laws that increase the minimum proximity of developments and wetlands. Creating space between wetlands and urban/agricultural developments would increase the salamander’s habitat, and thus increase their population size. The government can’t save these species alone though. They need YOUR help!

What you can do

So you may ask, how can I possibly help these species? You have a choice. You can either help water quality directly, indirectly or not at all; which one do you want to do? The way to help this situation immensely through indirect action is to make your voice heard, specifically by protesting the development of wetlands and spreading awareness on this issue. The main problem which is stopping the salamander’s rehabilitation is urban development near wetlands. Not only is the salamander’s habitat being taken and destroyed, but the waterways are being contaminated with construction sediment and chemicals. Making your voice heard and diminishing this urbanization can help improve the water quality indirectly. It can stop these corporations from destroying habitat, and help restore the land to what it was before.

How you can preserve water quality

Diminish carbon footprint
Don't litter
Pick up trash
Reduce the use of plastics
Reusing and recycling

Trump reduces protection for endangered species

In late 2019, the Trump Administration decided to start considering economic factors over ecological factors when deciding whether to list a species as federally endangered (Time, 2019). This means that the thousands of endangered species in the US are reduced to a monetary value, and the people who decide whether a not a species is worth saving often neglect to consider the ecological roles each species plays in its ecosystem. Stop the government from letting money get in the way of the environment - our one and only home. Vote in favor of politicians who care.