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Bringing Back Native Species

We’re reintroducing plant and animal species once lost at the Presidio.

Centuries of use by people has led to the decline of some native species in the Presidio.

Ecological restoration at the Presidio over the past two decades has allowed many native species to come home on their own.

Yet, some need our help to return, such as the Franciscan manzanita, Pacific chorus frogs, Western pond turtles, three-spine stickleback fish, the San Francisco forktail damselfly, the variable checkerspot butterfly, and California floater mussels.

These case studies explore some our efforts to bring back native plants and animals.

Case Study 1: Bringing Back the Franciscan Manzanita

The Franciscan manzanita, an endangered plant species native to San Francisco, was thought to be extinct in the wild until a single specimen was rediscovered in 2009 during Presidio Parkway construction. Since then, a successful conservation and recovery effort has resulted in the establishment of multiple populations of the plant.

Franciscan Manzanita Photos

Two men high five while kneeling next to the last wild Franciscan manzanita.
Two men high five while kneeling next to the last wild Franciscan manzanita. Photo by Michael Chasse.
A crane relocates the last wild Franciscan manzanita from next to the Doyle Drive highway.
Crane relocates the last wild Franciscan manzanita from next to the Doyle Drive highway.
Man planting a Franciscan manzanita on the coastal bluffs with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background.
A staff member plants a Franciscan manzanita on the coastal bluffs.

Case Study 2: Western Pond Turtle

The Presidio Trust, in partnership with the San Francisco Zoo and Sonoma State University, is restoring the Western pond turtle population at Mountain Lake through a captive breeding and reintroduction program.

Case Study 3: Pacific Chorus Frog

Pacific chorus frogs almost went extinct from San Francisco but were restored to the Presidio in the 2000s.

Case Study 4: Variable Checkerspot Butterfly

Once common throughout San Francisco, the variable checkerspot butterfly was lost to San Francisco decades ago. After habitat restoration and reintroduction, it’s again one of the most abundant butterfly species in the Presidio.

Case Study 5: Re-Introducing the California Quail

The California Quail – our state bird – hasn’t been seen in the Presidio since 2008. We’re working with the San Francisco Estuary Institute to study how to bring them back to the park. 

male quail in a field

Case Study 6: Re-Introducing Silvery Blue Butterfly

In an effort to restore a critical ecological link lost due to the extinction of the Xerces blue butterfly in San Francisco, this project aims to reintroduce silvery blue butterflies translocated from Monterey County populations to dune habitat in the Presidio. The silvery blue butterflies will act as an ecological surrogate with the goal of re-establishing a self-reproducing population over the next 2-3 years.

Media ImageImage courtesy of Gayle Laird from the California Academy of Sciences.