Forest Service employees conduct Columbia Spotted Frog Surveys
By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Friday, May 6th, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE – (Release from Wallowa Whitman National Forest) As the weather begins to warm in Eastern Oregon, so begins the cycle of life for one of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest’s sensitive species; the Columbia Spotted Frog (Rana luteiventris). On April 27, 2022, biological science technicians with the Forest conducted spotted frog surveys in the Upper Grande Ronde area.
Marie Gaylord, biological science technician out of the La Grande Ranger District, explains that this work occurs each April to determine which breeding sites are active during the breeding season.
“The breeding of this species of frog have been recorded in this area for over 30 years,” said Gaylord.
Many of the areas that are being surveyed recently underwent restoration efforts as part of the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program, with an end goal to increase floodplain connectivity and restore aquatic habitats, explains Dax Smith, biological science technician out of the La Grande Ranger District.
“By returning to these areas, we support the CFLRP process because it acts as a report card for our previous work,” said Smith. “These frogs could not lay eggs in some of the areas before, and now with the floodplain reconnected they are able to breed safely.”
A female Columbia Spotted Frog requires very specific habitat conditions to safely lay their egg masses, which could include anywhere from a few hundred to 2,000 eggs.
“Conditions like still, shallow water edges, emergent vegetation, and ample sunlight all contribute to a healthy breeding location,” said Gaylord. “As such, the presence of egg masses is an indicator of certain habitat conditions that can then be used to determine the habitat suitability for other aquatic or semiaquatic life.”
While creating better habitats increases the possibility of growth in the frog population, there are many factors that threaten the unhatched tadpoles. One of the largest factors being human interference.
“The egg masses that these frogs produce are very delicate,” explains Smith. “If you are out recreating in these pond areas, be mindful of your step and do not touch or pick up the masses.”
Visitors can assist by documenting and reporting sighted egg mass locations to their local district ranger office.
For more information about the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/wallowa-whitman.
