Partners in the recovery of the federally endangered Houston Toad (Anaxyrus houstonensis) are preparing for a major milestone in the species’ conservation journey as habitat restoration efforts move forward ahead of a planned reintroduction in Milam County in early 2026.

The effort is led by a collaboration among the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute (NRI), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, local landowners, and conservation partners to restore habitat conditions needed to support the long-term recovery of the species.

Once found across portions of Central Texas, the Houston Toad experienced steep population declines over the last century due to habitat fragmentation, prolonged drought, wildfire, and environmental change. The species was federally listed as endangered in 1970 and now persists in only a small portion of its historic range.

Milam County’s sandy soils, post oak woodlands, native vegetation, and seasonal wetlands provide habitat conditions historically associated with the species. In recent years, conservation teams have worked to restore and enhance these landscapes to support breeding, shelter, and long-term survival. Habitat restoration activities include improving ephemeral ponds used for breeding, restoring open woodland structure through vegetation management, assessing soil and hydrologic conditions, and monitoring environmental conditions ahead of release efforts.

Researchers from NRI, including Drs. Wade Ryberg, Toby Hibbitts, Danielle Walkup, and Corey Fielder, are supporting the project through ecological research, habitat restoration science, and long-term monitoring.

“This work represents years of collaboration focused on restoring the ecological conditions the Houston Toad needs to persist,” said Dr. Ryberg. “Recovery is about more than reintroducing a species to the landscape. It requires restoring functioning habitat and building long-term partnerships that support conservation into the future.”

Local participation has also been critical to the project’s progress. Landowners and community partners in Milam County have supported habitat restoration efforts and helped advance long-term conservation planning in the region. The planned reintroduction marks the next phase of a broader, multi-decade conservation effort involving state and federal agencies, universities, zoological institutions, conservation organizations, and private landowners across Texas and the southeastern United States. If successful, the effort could help restore a self-sustaining Houston Toad population and return one of Central Texas’ most recognizable nighttime calls to the landscape.

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See announcement from Texas Parks and Wildlife here: https://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/releases/?req=20260507b