Yosemite's Ecosystem Has Been Rebooted Thanks To One Adorable Animal

After years of silence, one of Yosemite's most beloved, and adorable, species has made a comeback. Once widespread from Baja California to Washington state, the western pond turtle has disappeared from over half of its historic range due to habitat loss, competition and predation from invasive species, disease, and drought.

The northwestern pond turtle ( Actinemys marmorata ), one of two species of western pond turtle, declined drastically in Yosemite National Park in the late twentieth century, primarily due to the introduction of the invasive American bullfrog.

The American bullfrog ( Rana catesbeiana ) is one of the most harmful invasive species in the world. The American bullfrog has spread rapidly due to the pet trade, their escape from breeding farms and research facilities