Song of survival: The northern leopard frog

It ain’t easy being green (or brown)

While populations of Canada’s northern leopard frog are flourishing in most of our provinces and territories, the Rocky Mountain population has been reduced to a sliver of its former population now residing only in British Columbia’s Creston Valley.

Habitat loss and degradation, invasive species, and disease are significant causes endangering this sensitive species who often don’t survive through their first B.C. winter.

Changing spots

In order to protect against extinction in the western population, recovery teams began to reintroduce the northern leopard frog back into areas where they have historical roots but are no longer found.

This relocation program, along with breeding programs and careful reproduction monitoring has been instrumental in preserving the existing population and helping these tadpoles grow to their full potential in marshy waters in an ever-widening portion of British Columbia’s southeast corner.

Recently, a new reintroduction site was selected near Cranbrook, B.C. Since the site is already a habitat for Columbia spotted frogs, indications are good that the northern leopard frog will find this new wetland complex to be ideal for surviving past their first year of life.

Survey says

Tracking the breeding and health status of reintroduced individuals at release sites involves an interview of sorts.

Using autonomous recording units and visual encounter surveys, conservationists have been able to see and hear how their efforts are working – straight from the frog’s mouth!

According to the Wilder Institute, “British Columbia wetlands are proving to be just what a little amphibian needs to help increase its odds of survival.” With a recent survey showing frogs that were 20% larger and 114% heavier compared to previous release sites in B.C.

That, coupled with higher overwinter survival rates, is a positive indication that conservation efforts are working and that the northern leopard frog’s mating sonnet may, one day, ring out from a marshy pond near you.