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A charismatic frog
The northern leopard frog is a large charismatic frog not overlooked for long in publicly accessible areas. Photo: Kris Kendell
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Egg mass baskets
Five floating egg mass baskets shelter freshly translocated northern leopard frog eggs at the Beauvais Lake Provincial Park reintroduction site in southwestern Alberta. The egg mass baskets are specially designed to maximize the survival of eggs and hatchling tadpoles. Photo: Kelly Boyle and Megan Egler
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Surveying for eggs
An ACA field technician surveys for northern leopard frog eggs at a reintroduction source site in the Cypress Hills region in southeastern Alberta. Photo: Kelly Boyle
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Reintroduction process
The act of physically moving northern leopard frog eggs for reintroduction involves many steps that must be conducted carefully to maximize the probability of the eggs hatching. ACA field technicians undertake the elaborate process of acclimatizing translocated eggs with water from reintroduction site. Photo: Kelly Boyle
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Degraded habitat
Abandoned and burned out vehicles, debris, and the effects of off-highway vehicles (OHV) degrade habitat at the Taber northern leopard frog stewardship site. As part of stewardship activities at this site, local contractors removed the vehicles and hydro-seeded, with native grasses, many of the land areas scarred by OHV. This vernal pond has sustained considerable damage from OHV activity. Photo: Kelly Boyle and Megan Egler
Northern Leopard Frog Recovery Program
Project Overview
The northern leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens) has suffered dramatic population declines in many parts of its range in Alberta. Although little studied, the decline in Alberta does not appear to be part of a natural cycle. The species’ reduced area of occupancy and fragmented populations led to its listing as Threatened under Alberta’s Wildlife Act in 1996. The status of northern leopard frogs was re-evaluated in 2003, and confirmed to be Threatened.
Perceived and measured declines in northern leopard frog numbers and populations in Alberta have prompted provincial research and a recovery program to better understand species distributions and to prevent the further decline of the species.
Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) is a member of the Alberta Northern Leopard Frog Recovery Team and is involved in the delivery of several actions outlined in the species’ Recovery Plan. ACA is playing a key role in implementing northern leopard frog stewardship projects; identifying and monitoring northern leopard frog source and reintroduction sites; monitoring disease; inventorying populations; and assessing habitat.
We believe that landholders can play an important role in alleviating habitat threats that impact Alberta’s northern leopard frog. Through the implementation of stewardship activities, landholders can improve habitat for northern leopard frogs and realize economic benefits from improved water quality and increased productivity of their lands.