Endangered frog gets habitat protection in California

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has designated 1.6 million acres in California as critical habitat for the endangered red-legged frog.

The habitat area is in 27 California counties, including six counties that previously did not have designated critical habitat: Mendocino, Sonoma, Placer, Calaveras, Stanislaus and Kings.

[update: 10:52 a.m. This was the third time the agency has tried to designate critical habitat for the species. One decision in 2001 was struck down in the courts. The Bush Administration scaled back critical habitat in 2006. That decision proved controversial when it was discovered that an Interior Department official, Julie MacDonald, pressured scientists to alter conclusions, and provided internal documents to lobbyists. MacDonald later resigned her post.]

-- Geoff Mohan