Red-Legged Frog Recovery Project
The Red-Legged Frogs is listed as threatened in the Edangered Species Act primarily because of the decline in quality wetland and upland habitat and predation by Bull Frogs. In studies published by the National Academy of Sciences, it has been found that frogs reproductive ability is reduced by commonly used herbicides at much lower rates than allowed in drinking water. A favorable environment needs to be recreated to recover a remnant population. The adult Red-Legged Frog (size 3 to 4 inches) spends most of its life out of the pond, except during the breeding season from February to March, and requires three to four years to reach breeding age. Desirable upland habitat includes trees, shrubs, and natural meadows. Also grass covered sediment deposits, downed logs, and debris piles along streams and ditches provide cool refuge in the summer months. The Bull Frogs, a serious predator of Red-Legged Frogs, needs two seasons for the tadpoles to turn into frogs. So a seasonal pond is a major advantage for Red-Legged Frogs which take one season.
