Heavy rains may help endangered Texas toad

DALLAS, TX There are only about 300 adult Houston toads left in the wild, but weeks of heavy rains in their drought-wracked habitat have boosted their slim chances of bouncing back.

Michael Forstner is a Texas State University professor who studies endangered species and is leading an effort to repopulate toad habitat. He said the easing of the drought has made him more hopeful.

The toad is typically 2 to 3.5 inches long and is found only in the sandy soils of forest land in six counties between Houston and Austin.

Forstner estimates there were once at least 50,000 of the toads.

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