The male canyon tree frog's mating call sounds like a cross between a loud imitation of a machine gun and a love-sick sheep, and at close range, sounds like it is coming from the inside of a tin can. Photo © Utah DNR
A Native Amphibian In Decline
In the western United States, where amphibians depend on ever-dwindling wetland habitat, 100% of the known frog species are declining. The canyon tree frog inhabits the Colorado Plateau’s river corridors, where uranium mining tailings threaten water quality, oil and gas drilling activity disturbs sensitive habitat, and dams and other water projects divert the flows that species depend on for survival. These destructive land-use activities are increasing in scope and intensity in western Colorado’s Dolores River Basin and Dominguez Canyons, prime canyon tree frog habitat. In the face of myriad threats to the integrity of our western landscapes, we work to protect this indicator species – whose vulnerability to pollution, water diversion, habitat loss and other disturbances indicates the overall health of a particular ecosystem.
Natural History
Canyon tree frogs are small frogs with a warty, toadlike appearance. They are olive to brownish-gray in color, but can range from a pale sandstone color to a dark, blotchy appearance. Despite their name, canyon tree frogs live mostly on the ground, and dine on terrestrial and aquatic insects. They are excellent climbers due to their large, adhesive toepads. They are primarily nocturnal, and their major habitat consists of arid areas close to rocky washes, streams, and permanent pools. They range from southern Utah to central Colorado, and south into Mexico.
Conservation Status
-BLM Sensitive Species in Colorado
Action Taken
As canyon tree frog populations begin to decline, a host of other species are likely to follow suit. Thus, we continue to monitor threats to key tree frog habitat within the Dolores River Basin and Dominguez Canyons as a means to protect these ecosystems in their entirety. Thus far, we have successfully halted oil and gas drilling proposals in these critical river corridors, and we work to stem other threats like uranium mining from impacting water quality and habitat integrity for these vulnerable amphibians.
