A piece of private land in Hancock County, Mississippi, has become an unlikely new home for one of America's rarest amphibians. In June 2026, nearly 500 federally endangered dusky gopher frogs were released into ponds at Woodland Cottage, a private property owned by Jim and Laura Currie. The release followed more than two decades of habitat restoration, during which the couple worked with conservation organisations to rebuild the longleaf pine ecosystem on their land. What makes the project particularly notable is that it was not carried out on a national wildlife refuge or other protected public land. Instead, a private working property was deliberately transformed into habitat capable of supporting an endangered species. The US Fish & Wildlife Service says the release established the only dusky gopher frog population in Hancock County.
Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!
