Habitat Restoration and Bullfrog Removal in Support of Northern Leopard Frog Conservation

In Colorado, the City of Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) department engaged in ongoing efforts to remove cattails and manage American bullfrogs to protect the native northern leopard frogs (NLF) from predation, competition, and disease transmission. Since 2015, ecologists have mechanically removed approximately 500 adult bullfrogs from 10 NLF habitats using seine nets, dip nets, and air rifles. To eliminate tadpoles and egg masses, they drained select ponds and installed water control structures to reduce water levels. Cattail were removed by weed whips and herbicide treatments. Ecologists also worked with local ranchers to support cattle grazing for cattail removal.