Once common throughout the West, the Northern Leopard Frog may be in serious trouble.
Northern Leopard Frog. Photo by Shaula Hedwall, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Over the past 30 years, the frog’s population has fallen dramatically in 19 Western and Midwest states. The reasons include loss of habitat to development and drought. The frog is also battling new predators, such as bullfrogs, crayfish and sport fish, which were introduced into the frog’s environment. Scientists are also looking at how disease and pesticides may play a role in the frog’s decline.
All this explains why the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering naming the Northern Leopard Frog as a threatened or endangered species in the West. FWS began studying the issue over the summer and today says it will extend the public comment period to November 27. Here in the Pacific Northwest, the states that could be affected by this ruling include Oregon, Washington, Idaho and California.
If FWS decides some kind of protection is necessary, then the next step would be to set aside certain areas as “critical habitat” for the frog.
It’s asking for people to leave comments at Regulations.gov.
For more information on the Northern Leopard Frog, see this FWS webpage.
I strongly support the creation of critical habitat preserves. When I first visited Montana as a kid on summer vacation, I remember ponds around public campgrounds were loaded with Northern Leopard Frogs. Three years ago I didn’t see any at all. It pains me to think that my young nephews and nieces may never see these frogs in the wild. Let’s put aside some areas for them and coax them back from the brink before it’s too late.