California’s wild landscapes and urban green spaces are facing a moment of reckoning as communities and conservationists grapple with the challenges of protecting native species and restoring ecological balance. From the rolling grasslands of Southern California to the rocky shores of Catalina Island and the prairies of Dallas, recent initiatives highlight both the promise and the controversy of modern wildlife management.
In the heart of California, the Western spadefoot—a small, resilient amphibian—may soon find itself at the center of a pivotal decision. The California Fish and Game Commission is set to meet on April 16, 2026, to determine whether the Western spadefoot should be granted endangered species protection. This tiny creature, which can fit in the palm of your hand and sports bumpy skin and a distinctive digging spur on its back feet, has become a symbol of the region’s embattled grasslands. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, the Western spadefoot is “adorable” and “resilient,” with staff scientist Sofia Prado-Irwin noting, “The most charming feature that they have is they have really big eyes that are sort of situated pretty high up on the head, so they almost look like googly eyes.”
Despite its quirky charm, the Western spadefoot faces a dire predicament. It breeds in temporary wetlands called vernal pools, which appear after rains, and then migrates to grasslands to burrow. But these habitats are vanishing fast. Prado-Irwin explained, “There’s estimates in Southern California that 90 to 95% of those pool habitats that once existed don’t exist anymore.” The culprit? Urban development and agricultural expansion have paved over much of the amphibian’s home, isolating populations and increasing the risk of inbreeding. In places like Orange County, genetically distinct clusters have become small and cut off from each other—a recipe for further decline.
This isn’t the spadefoot’s first brush with extinction. The species was first petitioned for federal protection in 2012, and though the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing it as threatened in 2023, no final decision was made. The Center for Biological Diversity renewed the push in September 2025, seeking state-level protection for both Northern and Southern California populations. The urgency is underscored by looming development projects, such as the Northlake housing development near Castaic Lake, which would pave over Grasshopper Creek and likely wipe out one of the last local populations.
Why does this little frog matter so much? Prado-Irwin offered a compelling answer: “When amphibian populations are doing well, that’s usually an indication that the environment is generally pretty healthy. But once amphibians start declining, that's kind of a warning flag that we need to be looking at what's going on. Because usually that means there's bigger environmental problems.” If the Western spadefoot is granted protection under the California Endangered Species Act, future development projects would face stricter reviews, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife could take concrete steps to reverse the species’ decline.
Meanwhile, on Catalina Island, a far larger animal is at the center of another ambitious conservation effort. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has greenlit a plan to remove approximately 2,200 mule deer from the island by 2032, a move spearheaded by the Santa Catalina Island Conservancy. The deer, introduced in the 1920s, have multiplied over the decades, threatening native habitats and biodiversity. Early relocation attempts in 1948 failed, and now the population is so robust that it endangers native plants and animals.
This restoration initiative is nothing if not high-tech. According to laist.com, professionals will use drones, thermal imaging, and specially trained dogs—mainly working at night—to locate the deer. Some animals will be captured, sterilized, and tracked to ensure that no pockets of deer remain unchecked. The plan also includes removing invasive vegetation and replanting native flora, while monitoring species like the island fox and monarch butterflies to gauge ecosystem recovery.
Not everyone is on board with the plan, however. Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn has voiced strong opposition, decrying what she calls the intended “systematic slaughter” of mule deer. Many residents share a deep emotional and cultural bond with the animals, making the restoration effort a flashpoint for debate over how best to balance ecological health with community values. Yet, history offers some hope: similar projects on nearby islands, such as the removal of Roosevelt elk and mule deer from Santa Rosa Island in 2011, have led to the regeneration of native plants. The eradication of non-native livestock from Santa Cruz Island by 2007 also facilitated the comeback of the endangered Santa Cruz Island fox.
While California contends with the complexities of endangered species and ecological restoration, Dallas, Texas, has taken a more lighthearted—yet equally practical—approach to land management. In early February 2026, the city recruited 260 goats from Fort Worth to graze on 11.5 acres near White Rock Lake, targeting the invasive privet shrub. This isn’t Dallas’s first goat rodeo; in April 2025, a similar herd spent 11 days munching privet at the Bachman Greenbelt.
The goats are more than just a novelty. As the Dallas Parks and Recreation Department put it in a playful Facebook post, “You spoke, we herd!” But there’s serious environmental purpose behind the project. Privet, a non-native shrub, spreads rapidly and disrupts local ecosystems. By using goats, the city avoids noisy, carbon-emitting machinery and reduces its reliance on fuel-powered equipment. Officials note that “removing privet stabilizes the soil to prevent erosion, improves visibility, and lowers wildfire risks.” Each day, an electric fence is repositioned to guide the goats to new sections, while a shepherd watches over the herd around the clock.
These three stories—of spadefoots, mule deer, and goats—may seem worlds apart, but together they paint a vivid picture of the challenges and creativity at play in contemporary conservation. Whether it’s the painstaking review of development plans to save a tiny amphibian, the deployment of drones and dogs to restore an island’s delicate balance, or the cheerful march of goats through an urban park, the stakes are high and the solutions as varied as the landscapes themselves.
As California and Texas move forward with these efforts, the outcomes will likely offer lessons for communities across the country. The fate of the Western spadefoot, the future of Catalina’s native ecosystems, and the ongoing fight against invasive species in Dallas all serve as reminders that protecting biodiversity is as much about people and politics as it is about plants and animals. The coming years will test the resolve, ingenuity, and compassion of everyone involved—and the results may well shape the future of America’s wild places.