Amphibian
Wyoming Toad
Anaxyrus baxteriAlso known as Baxter's Toad
Wyoming toads once flourished across the high-elevation wetlands of the Laramie Basin, foraging along shortgrass margins and breeding in shallow, sun-warmed oxbow ponds. Adult males produce a distinctive low-pitched, vibrating trill to attract females during late spring snowmelt. Following a catastrophic population crash caused primarily by chytrid fungus, intensive captive-breeding initiatives and carefully monitored refuge releases now sustain their precarious existence.
AmphibianNocturnalRare
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Extinct in the WildConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinct in the WildRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyAnts, Ground beetles, Flies
Predators
- Plains garter snake
- Great blue heron
- Raccoon
ThreatsChytridiomycosis, habitat drainage, pesticides, and genetic bottleneck
HabitatsWet meadows, alkaline lake edges, and floodplain marshes
Life span5–8 years
Classification
- FamilyBufonidae
- SpeciesAnaxyrus baxteri
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Look for dark olive to brown skin with irregular spots, a pale dorsal line, and prominent crests fusing into a boss between the eyes.
- Support conservation
- Never attempt to handle, capture, or visit fenced reintroduction zones, which are strictly protected under federal endangered species protocols.
Responsible observation
- Biosecurity: Disinfect all footwear and gear with a clean bleach solution to prevent spreading chytrid fungus.
- Refuge Regulations: Keep strictly to designated paths outside closed habitat zones at Mortenson Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
- Reporting: Forward any unconfirmed toad sightings within the Laramie Basin directly to federal wildlife managers.
Predator "Plains Garter Snake" by Greg Schechter is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative (c) J Brew, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by J Brew · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) brybrysciguy, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.5 · cc-by-sa
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