Are Oregon spotted frogs endangered?
Early last century, there were hundreds of thousands of them, ranging from northern California up into British Columbia’s Fraser Valley. Due to habitat destruction and the introduction of non-native species, their numbers have dropped as much as 90 percent from past populations; Oregon spotted frogs are now one of the most endangered amphibian species in Canada. The Oregon spotted frog is locally extinct (extirpated) in California, endangered in BC and Washington and at risk in Oregon. This means that their populations are at critically low levels. Current populations are declining and are thought to be present in only three ponds in the Lower Mainland. There may be only 300 frogs left in B.C. So far, researchers have been unable to breed the frogs in captivity, however, they are participating in programs to grow eggs into froglets in the lab and re-releasing them in the wild. Why is the Oregon spotted frog endangered? Bullfrogs, introduced green frogs and predatory fish introduction c
