Photo Courtesy of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Author: Kathryn (Ryn) Davison, Ranid Frogs Specialist, Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD)

Kathryn is a specialist in amphibians and reptiles with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, where she focuses on conservation efforts for threatened and endangered species across the Southwest.

Part of my job as a wildlife biologist includes looking for new habitat for the threatened species with which I work: the Chiricahua leopard frog (Rana chiricahuensis). These frogs exist between elevations of 3,280 to 8,890 feet. In general, we search for habitat features such as the lack or low density of invasive species (like bullfrogs or crayfish) and suitable cover like undercut banks, protruding roots, and rocky outcroppings. Their range spans through parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico. 

Last summer, our team headed south near the US-Mexico border to survey an earthen pond (also called a ‘tank’) on an actively grazed cattle allotment in the Coronado National Forest. We schlepped down a hill with our backpacks, clipboards, and a dipnet. There, we were met by a herd of stoic cattle gathered around the water. A couple of calves were swimming from one side to the other, their heads peeking up over the surface. As we were greeted by a few sassy “moooooos,” we set down our gear a short distance away from the water’s edge. 

Breaking out our binoculars, we began to scan the area for any sign of frogs. It is like a game of “Where’s Waldo.” We look for eyes popping over the water and in the emergent vegetation as well as any lumps on the perimeter of the pond. These critters vary from green to brown and may appear darker in color in cooler water. It doesn’t take long before we’ve spotted our target species. Identifiable by their broken/inset dorsolateral folds (the ridges on their back) and their black and white peppered noduled thighs, they stood out from the surrounding rushes and grasses as they splayed out on the surface. Each of us counted up the number of frogs we saw, and we compared our finds. 

Photo Courtesy of Christina Akins.

“Oh look, there’s another!” and “Add ten to that,” are always music to our ears. This particular pond housed hundreds of frogs. With our initial counts in our heads, we neared the water’s edge for a more in-depth survey. Upon our approach, the frogs on the bank leaped into the pond. Each step set off a chain reaction: imagine frogs doing “the wave” at a sports game. It was thrilling to see so many frogs, big and small, persisting in a state that is thought of to be quite dry. We scooped our dipnet into the water and found tadpoles of the species as well. 

That pond has been fortified by a collaboration between the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), U. S. Forest Service, and the permittee who runs cattle on the land. These frogs rely on permanent water sources, which can be scarce in a state where it generally rapidly evaporates in the heat. Since ranchers and private landowners are stewards of the water, it makes sense that we team up in a way that suits all of our needs. Sustainable grazing practices preserve the quality and quantity of resources on the landscape, which is important to both frogs and cows. The shared interest in water retention between cattle growers and AZGFD biologists creates a strong foundation for the conservation of the species as well as the livelihood of the people who live on and work the land. 

We appreciate the assistance and dedication of participating landowners in the Safe Harbor program, which provides private landowners (many of whom are ranchers) protections and assistance in habitat maintenance for threatened and endangered species in exchange for establishing or protecting frog populations on their properties. Strengthening water sources via recontouring, cleaning out, and deepening tanks (which many cattle growers do already) can benefit frogs as well. At the AZGFD, we apply for funding for similar habitat construction projects all across the state for private and public lands. The projects range from but are not limited to helping line ponds, building and maintaining fence lines, and working with ecosystem engineers to create wetlands. With a resource as scarce and precious as water in the Southwest, there is hope in cooperation to promote the goals of multiple parties and to allow different species to coexist.