Date: 04/23/10
Contact: Doug Nielsen
Phone: (702) 486-5127 x 3500

A DAY TO SAVE THE FROGS

Save the Frogs Day is April 30, and whether you live in the desert or a more humid climate, it’s something to pay attention to. Frogs and toads around the world are facing serious problems from disease, habitat loss, and invasive predators. Some species are experiencing massive die-offs.

So what’s the big deal? “Frogs are the canary in the coal mine. They give us early warning of changes in the environment, due to their sensitivity to those changes,” said Jon Sjoberg, supervising fisheries biologist for the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW).

Frogs and toads are in the middle of the food chain, so losing them will affect both what they eat and what eats them. Because tadpoles eat algae and stir up dirt, if they are not present, algae may flourish and ponds and lakes may be rendered unproductive. Adult frogs and toads eat insects and other small animals, which without this natural predator could become out of control.

Without frogs and toads, the predators that consume them may go with nothing to eat or have to change their prey base. The loss of these amphibians can change the whole ecology of wetland systems. In addition, it would be a loss to the medical community. Certain frogs and toads have been found to have chemicals in their skin that are important in human disease research. Most important of all, as Sjoberg pointed out, frogs and toads indicate the health of our aquatic ecosystems, systems on which humans also are dependent.

All species of frogs and toads seem to be facing the same three categories of threats. The first is the loss of habitat, which is always a problem where development is present. The second is the chytrid fungus, which has been responsible for massive die-offs in certain areas of the country and abroad. Fortunately, none of these die-offs have occurred in Nevada. Biologists do not know the extent of the presence of chytrid in Nevada, but they do know that the fungus has been found in bullfrogs from Beatty.

And finally, competition from and predation by exotic frog species is a huge problem. In Nevada, non-native species such as bullfrogs, African clawed frogs, and others, find their way into native ecosystems by escaping from captivity. Bullfrogs are an effective predator not only on native frogs and toads, but birds and bats as well.

Nevada’s wildlife biologists are working hard to study and protect Nevada’s native amphibians, but what can residents do to help? It’s important to show appreciation for these animals and respect their habitats. Perhaps the most important thing to do is to practice “no release.” Although it seems like a humane thing to do, releasing captive frogs into the wild can have devastating effects. Non-native frogs from home aquariums or school laboratories can upset native wetland ecology. Make sure you do not purchase pet frogs that are not allowed into the state. Frogs brought in for outdoor water gardens are especially prone to escape.

NDOW native fish and amphibian biologist Brian Hobbs said, “Frogs are best left in their native habitat. You can learn more from them by watching them in their native habitat than in an aquarium. You also get to learn about the things around them.”

NDOW offers the following overview describing some of the frog and toad species that live in Southern Nevada. As one might expect in a desert environment, some of these amphibians are already imperiled.

• The Pacific Tree Frog or Chorus Frog – Very common in the western U.S., it is seen and heard all over – including in the movies!
  
  
• Great Basin Spadefoot Toad – This species spends most of its time underground. When it rains, the toads emerge from the ground and complete their reproductive cycle in puddles.
  
  
• Woodhouse’s Toad –This is the amphibian that is most seen around Las Vegas. It is also known to hybridize with other toads.
  
  
• Northern Leopard Frog – At Pahranaghat National Wildlife Refuge, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and NDOW are assisting a small population of this state-protected species by rearing some eggs to tadpoles and re-releasing them in a program called captive propagation.
  
  
• Relict Leopard Frog – This is a state-protected species that is also being helped out by captive propagation programs. Since it occurs largely at Lake Mead, NDOW partners with the National Park Service.
  
  
• Amargosa Toad – Listed as state-protected, the population is holding steady, but remains at low enough numbers that a second petition seeking its listing under the Endangered Species Act has been submitted to the USFWS.

For more information on Save the Frogs Day, go to www.savethefrogs.com. And for kids who like to explore, you can find an identification guide to frogs and toads of Nevada at www.ndow.org.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, and promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.