Endangered mountain yellow-legged frogs

Elizabeth Gallegos, left, and colleague Adam Backlin hike rugged San Gabriel Mountains terrain to reach the endangered mountain yellow-legged frogs’ habitat. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Sept. 17, 2012 2:50 PM PT

Efforts to save mountain yellow-legged frogs, whose population had been dwindling, seem to be paying off, with the fist-sized amphibians breeding in numbers not seen in decades. Full story

The mountain yellow-legged frog species is susceptible to a skin fungus linked to amphibians that are vanishing around the world. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

USGS field biologist Adam Backlin uses a special net to catch mountain yellow-legged frogs from a stream in the San Gabriel Mountains. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

A jumpy mountain yellow-legged frog leaps into a special net during the USGS biologists’ field trip to check on the endangered species’ welfare. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)