In 2009, A Rocha Canada established an ongoing inventory and monitoring project consisting of annual egg mass surveys for pond-breeding amphibians in wetland breeding sites throughout the Little Campbell River watershed. The priority species for these surveys is the Northern Red-legged Frog (Rana aurora). The Northern Red-legged Frog is a medium-sized frog with a typical adult snout-vent length ranging from 50 to 70 mm. This species is named for the characteristic red colour seen through its translucent skin on the underside of its hind legs as an adult. Its back is usually brown and has black spots, and it has black bands around its legs.

The Northern Red-legged Frog plays an important role in its native ecosystem, preying on invertebrates and functioning as a food source for a variety of species in higher trophic levels. Threats to this species include urban development, road mortality, water management, aquatic invasive species (primarily American Bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus), disease, and pollution.

A report summarizing the results of the first six years of this monitoring project has been completed (Bunnell et al. 2016). This report concluded that in the Little Campbell River watershed during the study period, forest removal, drying and warming of the water (resulting from climate change and declining aquifers), presence of American Bullfrog, expansion of invasive Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris), and several indices of pollution have negative effects on the Northern Red-legged Frog. This project continues each year, building on previous findings and expanding A Rocha Canada’s time series data set in order to better understand the vulnerabilities of the Northern Red-legged Frog, document changes in its population and habitat, and inform management actions. A study conducted in partnership with Trinity Western University faculty and students investigated the effects of climate change on pond-breeding amphibians in ephemeral wetlands, including the Northern Red-legged Frog, and resulted in a published article in 2019. This project has been funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Habitat Stewardship Program.

Conservation Status

*S: Subnational status; *3: special concern, vulnerable to extirpation or extinction.