BIGFORK EAGLE (Montana) 05 July 06 Amphibian Days relies on citizen-scientists (Faith Moldan)
Large numbers of wild animals make their homes in Montana, but some smaller species go undetected more often than not. That's where the Flathead National Forest's Amphibian Days come into play.
This marked the 12th year of Amphibian Days, also known as Frog Days. And just like previous years, volunteers from all over the Flathead Valley volunteered their time to help identify the amphibians June 27-29.
"We had about 40 volunteers," Beth Gardner of the Flathead National Forest (FNF) said. "It was better than usual," she said of the turnout. Gardner added that the two other locations--Hungry Horse and Whitefish-were more crowded than Bigfork.
Unlike big-game animals such as elk, deer and moose, amphibian studies are not funded by the government and therefore the FNF must rely on "citizen-scientists" to identify and locate the species' locations and numbers.
"They're important, ecologically speaking," Gardner said of amphibians and their role in the food chain. "Shouldn't we find out how they're doing?" She added that it's necessary to know if they are disappearing.
Among the amphibians specifically searched for during Frog Days were the western toad, spotted frog, leopard frog, long-toed salamander, common garter snake, western-terrestrial garter snake, rubber boa and painted turtle. The chorus frog was added to the list in Whitefish but is not found in the Swan Valley. "Nobody knows why," Gardner said.
A total of six groups departed from the Swan Lake Ranger District Ranger Station in Bigfork after some instructions on how to identify each species. The groups were scattered down the Swan Valley and widely distributed, according to Gardner.
Gardner said the data collected showed pretty average results. "A few more western toad reproduction areas were located," she said. "No turtles were seen all three days, and not so many adult spotted frogs."
Four "bad guys" were of interest to the FNF as well. They included the brook stickleback fish, planorbid snails, snapping turtles and bullfrogs. These bad guys are recorded in the groups' findings as well, as they create problems in the ponds and wetlands that the other amphibians call home. The planorbid snail is a native creature, but is also a carrier of a fungus that can damage amphibian populations and their habitats. Gardner said the same percentage of the bad guys is observed and recorded every year.
Anyone older than 7 was encouraged to participate. Gardner said it was often times the kids in the groups that had the best luck catching the fast and far-jumping frogs.
Gardner wasn't alarmed by the day's results, as a number of tadpoles were reported. "We know it's just the natural cycle," she said. "You see patterns over time." During the groups' instructions she added that "absence is data, too."
Amphibian Days relies on citizen-scientists