Springs Preserve works to reintroduce endangered species, documents rare toad sighting

LAS VEGAS (FOX5) —The Springs Preserve is actively reintroducing species to a recreated wetland system built along the historic Las Vegas Creek Channel — and the habitat is drawing in wildlife on its own.

Katrina Smith, senior zoologist at the Springs Preserve, said staff recently spotted a Woodhouse’s Toad on the property through a wildlife camera — a species that is native to Nevada, but had not been recorded on the preserve in roughly 60 years.

“We had a lone male Woodhouse’s Toad show up on property,” Smith said. “This toad has not been seen on our property in probably 60 years. We have no records of it.”

MORE ON FOX5: Rare toad spotted at Springs Preserve for first time in nearly 65 years

Rewilding the relic leopard frog

The toad sighting comes as the preserve is in the middle of a broader rewilding effort centered on the relic leopard frog, a state-protected and vulnerable species. Staff created two ponds in an area of the preserve called the Cottonwood Grove and introduced the frogs as part of a coordinated effort with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state partners.

Smith said the effort is tied to the history of Las Vegas. The Vegas Valley Leopard Frog, a species once native to the area, went extinct when local water sources dried up. The relic leopard frog serves as a surrogate for that lost species.

“What we’re trying to do is what we call rewilding, which is kind of create these habitats that used to be here and put in species that used to be here,” Smith said. “That relic leopard frog is sort of a surrogate for that old leopard frog.”

What lives at the preserve

In addition to the relic leopard frogs, the Cottonwood Grove is also home to the endangered Pahrump Poolfish. The preserve has documented more than 430 species of birds, insects, reptiles, and amphibians on the property using iNaturalist, a public app and website.

Smith said the recreated wetland system captures runoff water from the Ulta Channel and has become a draw for wildlife beyond the introduced species.

“We love that we have created a 180-acre oasis here in the middle of the city that is encouraging animals to come and stop through or just establish themselves here,” she said.

Visiting the preserve

The Woodhouse’s Toad has not been spotted on camera since the initial sighting. Smith said the nocturnal animal may have moved to another water source or simply not been captured on camera again. Visitors are unlikely to see it during the day.

The Springs Preserve has three miles of trail systems open to the public, including a trail through the Cottonwood Grove wetland system where the frogs can be seen. Smith encouraged visitors to photograph and share any wildlife sightings on iNaturalist.