Newt recovery program is off to promising start, Working to save this species from extinction

At the Oregon Zoo’s conservation lab, a group of rare Mazama newts is growing strong. The newts arrived last August, when the zoo teamed up with the National Park Service and the High Desert Museum in an emergency effort to save the species from extinction.

“The newts are doing really well, which is wonderful to see,” said Julia Low, who oversees the zoo’s recovery efforts. “We’ve seen them grow at least 20% in weight and in length since they arrived, which tells us they’re getting what they need to develop properly.”

Since Mazama newts are found only in Crater Lake, Low and her team work to replicate their natural conditions every way they can — from lighting and temperature to rocks and plant life.

“The lights are on timers to match sunrise and sunset at the lake,” Low said. “And we keep it very cold in the lab, just like it would be there. We have to keep our jackets on inside — but if it helps the newts, it’s worth it.”

The conservation lab also is propagating native Crater Lake snails as a natural food source for the newts. Hundreds of snails have hatched in the lab, and conservationists hope this will be helpful for young newts as they are released into protected areas of the lake.

Historically, Mazama newts were a top aquatic predator in Crater Lake, but in recent years invasive signal crayfish have taken over the lakeshore.

The zoo’s conservation lab is equipped to care for the newts at every stage of life. If all goes according to plan, their offspring will eventually be released back into the lake.

“We know how important this work is, and we’re up to the challenge,” Low said. “Now is the time to act to save this species.”

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