Will the Toad Croak? An Endangered Species Decision Case

Abstract

In 1992, the USEPA proposed a ban on the use of 43 pesticides in a large portion of Albany County, Wyoming. The ban was intended to protect the habitat of an endangered species, the Wyoming toad (Bufo hemiophyrs baxteri), as required by the Endangered Species Act of 1973. For many years, portions of Albany County that included Wyoming toad habitat had been routinely sprayed with insecticides to control mosquitoes. Residents were concerned that without adequate mosquito control, recreation, tourism, agriculture, public health, and property values could be impacted. A task force comprised of local residents of diverse backgrounds and viewpoints was appointed in 1992 by the governor of Wyoming and Albany County commissioners to consider how best to (i) protect the Wyoming toad and aid its recovery, and (ii) maintain effective mosquito control. The goal of the group was to submit an alternative proposal to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and to the USEPA that would meet both objectives and be more acceptable to the residents of Albany County than the USEPA's proposed ban. This case provides a focus for considering the value of endangered species, possible impacts of the Endangered Species Act on agricultural producers, local businesses, visiting tourists, and local residents. It also permits students to consider the involvement of local communities in decision-making.