The Mississippi gopher frog is a distinct population segment of the wider ranging dusky gopher frog. It has genetic characteristics that are different from all other gopher frogs and is isolated from them by 125 miles of unoccupied habitat and the Mobile River delta. The Mississippi gopher frog once lived in the longleaf pine forests of the lower coastal plain from east of the Mississippi River in Louisiana to the Mobile River delta in Alabama. It has not been seen in Louisiana since 1962 or in Alabama since 1922. Today, just 100 adult frogs remain, all located in one pond at the edge of DeSoto National Forest in Harrison County, Mississippi.
Biologists believe loss and degradation of habitat is the primary reason the species has declined.
This development and the anticipated future urban development it will bring to the area, including highways and a proposed reservoir, could damage or destroy the frog's only remaining habitat. We are currently working with the developer to avoid potential impacts to the frog. Wind and solar photovoltaics are the world's fastest growing energy sources. From 1990 to 1998, wind energy expanded at an average rate of 22 percent a year, while solar expanded by 16 percent a year. Cost effective solar thermal technologies, such as the unglazed transpired solar collector and reliable, affordable solar water heating systems, are also becoming established in the marketplace.