One of the more faithful visitors of this blog (Monica Craver AKA Swamp Guardian) is asking for our help. It’s a request for us to sign a petition to protect habitat for the Northern Red-Legged Frog near Vancouver, Canada, and it points to the No. 1 threat to amphibians — loss of habitat. I often post about the amphibian chytrid fungus as a huge threat — and it is — but loss of habitat is the bigger threat. Here’s the link to the petition: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/31/help-save-the-red-legged-frog (Also, don’t forget the Amphibian Ark petition.) And here is the reason why we need to sign it:
“I have had to close my website to the public because my activism to get proper protection for the Northern Red Legged Frog habitat has come under attack by mountain bikers who do not want to see the habitat closed to their riding and building activities. If they get their way, we will see more bike trails and bike traffic going through this park and critical wetland habitat. Could you please publish this petition to save the North Red-Legged Frog in North Vancouver, BC. There is over 25 acres of wetland and upland area at risk of becoming further fragmented and degraded by wheeled wreckreational activities in it. As mountain bikers come from all over the world to use the North Shore mountains to ride, this is not a local issue anymore. I need as many names as I can muster up by the end of this month. I will report afterwards if this little Red-Legged frog paradise was saved or not. “
Frog Matters 
April 14, 2008 at 8:23 am
I think you need to seriously consider the fact that mountain bikers are not the only user group affecting erosion and frog habitats. Pedestrian dog walkers far out number mountain bikers with dogs and even though both user groups let their dogs run “amok” you chose to single out mountain bikers. And also consider that mountain highway has ski resort construction vehicles on it through out most of the year contributing to increased sediment in run off water. I think you have maliciously targeted a user group that you personally don’t like for what ever reason. Your arguments don’t hold much weight nor do they reflect common sense. Please cease your attacks on the mountain bike community.
April 15, 2008 at 8:01 am
Accuracy is important. Lets see.
from Natureserv. Habitat Comments: Habitat generally is in or near the quiet permanent waters of streams, marshes, or (less often) ponds and other quiet bodies of water. The frogs are sometimes found in damp woods and meadows some distance from water, especially during wet weather. In California, it occurs in sites with dense vegetation (e.g., willows) close to water and some shading. Red-legged frogs may occupy ephemeral pools if the water remains until late spring or early summer (Biosystems Analysis 1989). Estivation sites include small mammal burrows and moist leaf litter in dense riparian vegetation up to 26 m from water (Rathbun et al. 1993, cited by USFWS 1994). Desiccation cracks in dry pond bottoms may be used as refuges (Alvarez, 2004, Herpetol. Rev. 35:162-163). Breeding sites most often are in permanent water; eggs are attached to stiff submerged stems (egg mass at the surface in R. a. draytonii).
Hardly mountain biking terrain is it. Given that most of the trails are on a hilside above 300m in altitude. Not much permanent moisture either as most of the streams dry up in summer drought.
A second growth hemlock cedar forest on a 40 degree slope can hardly be considered as red legged frog habitat. There is a good chance that some of the streams here may support coastal spotted frogs if they actually survived the logging that went on at the turn of the 20th century.
The best habitat for red legged frogs is agricultural land and wetlands that are being drained for houses. This is where you should be concentrating your efforts rather than doing battle with mountain bikers riding at night in winter when most frogs are buried in the mud.
As I said before acuracy is important.
April 15, 2008 at 8:18 am
Mountain Bikers are probably the largest user group on Mt Fromme. If we are removed from the area, that would drastically reduce opposition to further development above mountain highway. I think a housing development would be much worse for the frogs than seeing an occasional mountain bike, don’t you?
April 15, 2008 at 9:44 am
Having a disagreement on use of land is nothing new. Reasonable people can disagree. Re: what is the most common habitat for this species, good Web sites to learn more are http://www.globalamphibians.org and http://www.amphibiaweb.org But don’t think that the frog isn’t hopping along in habitat where it’s not expected to be. Amphibians have a funny way of deciding where they will live and breed. I’m not going to publish more comments on this post. If people want to sign a petition to protect a species, that of course is their right.
October 11, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Wildlife need to get top priority, because they can’t protect themselves from us. Mountain biking is a huge threat to amphibians and reptiles, as a recent book on Urban Herpetology documents. Mountain bikers ride through streams, killing eggs and tadpoles. They frankly don’t care whom or what they hurt. All they care about is getting their cheap thrills, to stoke their adrenaline addiction. See http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande/mtb17.
October 17, 2009 at 2:22 am
We all agree that wildlife need to receive a bit higher priority these days. With habitat loss being the greatest threat to amphibians (and many other creatures), it would seem that our recreational activities that destroy animals or their habitats should indeed be restricted to areas where it is lessened.
However, as you know, people are people and some are just less conscious and accountable than others. Some simply don’t care! So, we have to continue raising awareness of the threats facing our amphibians and their habitats. Letting people know, in a friendly and positive way, that their activities can adversely affect the environment would be a great start.