Swan Lake Flats

While doing an amphibian survey on Swan Lake Flats, I took a moment to peer into another world. Although fishless, the pond was full of life and the invertebrates seemingly swam with purpose. I remembered a science fair project on “pond scum” that I did in elementary school and the fascination I had for these animals. To this day, I still get excited when I visit this alien world.

The Plains Spadefoot Toad

I have the pleasure of working with the plains spadefoot toad (Spea bombifrons). A breeding population was recently confirmed in 2014. This video presents the bulbous tadpoles swimming in the shallow, ephemeral margins of a meadow pond. Take a closer look to see them in various stages of metamorphosis. In the Wildlife Health Program, we monitor Yellowstone’s amphibians for the presence of Chytrid fungus and Ranavirus — two deleterious diseases that have the potential to decimate populations.