SAVING THE OREGON SPOTTED FROG

The first species ever to be emergency-listed as an endangered species in Canada, the Oregon spotted frog has been on the U.S. candidate list for more than 15 years but still has no federal protection in the United States. Named for the black spots that cover its head, back, sides, and legs, the species has an historic range that stretches from California up north past the U.S.-Canadian border. But encroachments on its wetland habitats and the introduction of nonnative plants and animals have almost totally extinguished the frog. Over the past 50 years, the frog has disappeared from 90 percent of its former range — and since it was listed as a candidate in 1991, its habitat has been lost at an accelerating pace.

In addition to changes in its wetland habitat, the frog is threatened by introduced species:  Bullfrogs and green frogs compete with Oregon spotted frogs for food, while fish introduced to waterways and wetlands for sport fishing may prey on native tadpoles or compete with native frogs for prey. Invasive plants such as reed canarygrass can alter wetland habitats so much that native frogs can no longer use them.

The Center works to monitor these threats to the species and collaborates with other groups to try to protect the frog population. In 2004, we filed a petition for the Oregon spotted frog as part of our Candidate Project — the largest single listing effort in Endangered Species Act history — requesting that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service cease delaying protection for the frog and 224 other candidate species. And in 2008, after we and our allies filed suit to protect the species from devastating livestock grazing in the home of one of its few population, the Forest Service proposed to fence off the critical area to protect the frog from cattle.