SAN FRANCISCO, March 19 (UPI) -- A San Francisco municipal golf course has been blocked from draining a temporary pond on the back nine that has become a home to tadpoles.

The tadpoles are those of the threatened red-legged frog, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The frogs also happen to be food for an endangered species, the San Francisco garter snake.

As a result, golfers at Sharp Park Golf Course in Pacifica, which is owned by the city of San Francisco, have had to play around the pond until the tadpoles mature into frogs.

They are protected by the Endangered Species Act.
Manager Mark Duane said that closing some holes has cost the course business.

"We have a lot of people befuddled by the lack of action of the city, but we have an obligation to uphold the law," said Rose Dennis, a spokeswoman for the city Recreation and Park Department.

The tadpoles have now gone through their metamorphosis and the pond has been drained until its next appearance.

"There's plenty of room for everybody, golfers and snakes like," Duane said.

--
Copyright 2008 by United Press International.
All rights reserved.
--