Watching frogs

July 26, 2005

JOEL DAVIDSON\Frontiersman reporter

MAT-SU - With increased numbers of reports of deformed Alaska wood frogs, the Alaska Wood Frog Monitoring Program has launched a statewide effort to learn more about the frogs and help determine the cause of the deformations.

The program is part of the Alaska Citizen Science Program. Families, clubs, classes and other groups are needed to help assess the current status of wood frogs.

The goal is to learn exactly where they live, what habitats they dwell in and establish baseline data for future monitoring.

The program's Web site states there is a lack of data about the frogs, which poses a problem for scientists who are trying to understand why so many frogs are showing up with missing or deformed legs.

"This same lack of information means that we have a poor understanding of what constitutes good wood frog habitat," the Web site states.

Virtually any area with standing water for at least part of the summer qualifies as potential wood frog habitat.

This includes lakes, ponds, bogs, marshes and even roadside ditches.

People interested in monitoring an area may call David Tessler at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, (907) 267-2433 or e-mail him at david_tessler@fishgame.state.ak.us.

For more information, visit www.akfrogs.net.

Contact Joel Davidson at 352-2266, or joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.