AUTHORS: Nate Engbrecht, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish & Wildlife
ABSTRACT: The Crawfish Frog (Lithobates areolatus) is a fossorial, prairie-dwelling species of the central United States that has declined across several parts of its geographic range. Populations east of the Mississippi River have been especially impacted and it was recently designated as a Regional Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Crawfish Frogs are "obligate crayfish burrow dwellers" that spend much of their lives in close association with their primary burrow, often returning to the same burrow following annual breeding migrations in excess of 1 km. The loss of grasslands, wetlands, and impacts to burrows through soil disturbance poses a triple threat to the frog's conservation status. Despite these challenges, Crawfish Frogs have shown a remarkable ability to colonize new areas once suitable habitat is made available, including reclaimed coal mines and military munition testing sites. Emerging data indicate that egg mass translocation may be effective tool for starting new populations at remote or isolated localities. This report provides an overview of Crawfish Frog life history, habitat use, and conservation implications across the species’ Midwestern range.
