MOSCA, COLO. (AP) -- A frog that hasn't been seen at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in more than 40 years has returned.
Ranger Patrick Myers says he spotted a northern leopard frog during a nature walk with park visitors in the South Twin Lake area July 31. Since then, he's seen more of the green frogs with black spots.
He says he and visitors have seen about 10 of the frogs, each less than a year old and about 2 inches long. Adults are about 3 to four inches big.
Researchers have speculated that disease, changing habitat or other frogs could have forced the northern leopard frog from the park. It's unclear why they returned. Myers says there is a healthy population of them about four miles south of the park.
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