Last updated: August 15, 2024
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Project Profile: Control Bullfrogs and Restore Native Amphibians to Protect Imperiled Wetlands of Southwestern Parks
NPS / Grace Kirk
Inflation Reduction Act
Restoration | FY23-25: $996,499
The National Park Service (NPS) is implementing the restoration of native amphibians in over 20 sensitive wetlands across eight southwestern national parks - Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Chiricahua National Monument, Coronado National Memorial, Fort Bowie National Historic Site, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Montezuma Castle National Monument, Saguaro National Park, and Tuzigoot National Historical Park. Project objectives include eradicating invasive, non-native American bullfrogs, reducing pathogens spread by these invasives, restoring native amphibians and aquatic reptiles in park wetlands, and developing an early detection/rapid response system to identify and prevent bullfrog recolonization.
Why: American bullfrogs are voracious predators – often referred to as “the Great White Shark of the Southwest” – that directly contribute to the decline of various native aquatic species in the Southwest, including several threatened and endangered species (TES). Additionally, bullfrogs can spread amphibian chytrid and ranaviruses, which are pathogens of global conservation concern for their extremely harmful impacts to aquatic Mexican and narrow-headed garter snakes, Arizona toads, Chiricahua leopard frogs (all of which are federally listed TES or TES candidates), and unfortunately many more common native amphibian species. Climate change projections suggest that bullfrogs might adapt better than their amphibian counterparts, further endangering native species.
Anything Else? This project aligns with the mandate to restore native wetlands and supports the recovery of state and federally listed threatened and endangered species. A public communication strategy, media, and products for the project will be developed and produced by a Scientist in Park intern, and will reach at least 250 youths through NPS programs and outreach.
Learn More About This Project
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- Sites: Chihuahuan Desert Inventory & Monitoring Network, Inventory and Monitoring Division, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate, Sonoran Desert Inventory & Monitoring Network, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, more »
The National Park Service is implementing the restoration of native amphibians in over 20 sensitive wetlands across eight southwestern national parks. However, there's a particular threat (that croaks) that requires the NPS and partners to collaborate and innovate to find solutions.
- Sites: Chihuahuan Desert Inventory & Monitoring Network, Sonoran Desert Inventory & Monitoring Network, Southern Plains Inventory & Monitoring Network, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Chiricahua National Monument, more »
The American bullfrog is a great threat to aquatic ecosystems in the Southwest. They are voracious predators of aquatic animals and carry diseases that kill native species. We will implement three main actions in this project funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, Invasive Species Grant: bullfrog control, native species recovery and reintroduction, and development of early detection/rapid response protocols for bullfrogs.