As wildfires rage, we in Emet’s Crossing have luckily been spared the direct ravages of the flame that our friends on the west coast have been forced to suffer. We have, however, begun to see some effects in our great state as smoke drifts east. According to local scientist Phillip Engelbert, this smoke threatens one of the few endangered species that calls our town its home: the Northern Cricket Frog.
Once existing in massive populations, the Northern Cricket Frog is now one of the most endangered species in our state, having been reduced to a fraction of its former range. It is one of the smallest species of vertebrate in North America. As these amphibians use slow-moving water as their primary habitat, many of their traditional breeding grounds have been displaced or destroyed by recent construction around Emet’s Crossing over the past decade.
In response to news of this additional threat, the 4th Graders at Emet’s Crossing Montessori School have begun a virtual collection box to help conservation efforts. Donations can be made on the school’s website, as in-person contributions are not possible due to the continuing COVID-19 situation.
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