AUTHORS: Paul W. Frese, Iowa Department of Natural Resources
ABSTRACT: The Northern Crawfish Frog, Lithobates areolatus, has not been documented in Iowa since 1942 and is classified as endangered in the state. In the last three decades, concerted efforts by multiple researchers have failed to find any sign of the crawfish frog in Iowa and they are almost certainly extirpated. Crawfish frogs have experienced declines throughout their range due to habitat loss or degradation and there is no evidence that crawfish frogs were extirpated from Iowa due to factors other than habitat destruction. Recent research has provided vital information on the natural history and ecology of crawfish frogs as well as habitat suitability assessments of potential release sites giving us tools and knowledge to improve the success rate of a species restoration project. I will review the known historical record of crawfish frogs in Iowa and give an update of the status of potential repatriation efforts in the state.
