The Status of Amphibians on the Flathead Reservation, Montana -- The Montana Chapter of the Wildlife Society Annual Meeting, Polson, MT, March 4-6, 1998

Abstract

Increasing concern about diminishing populations of amphibians has prompted many agencies, including the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Wildlife Division, to inventory local species. Between 1993-1997, a total of 398 herpetological surveys were made at 276 sites on the Flathead Reservation. Surveys were conducted by 2 individuals and consisted of a thorough search of the wetland perimeter, netting of near shore aquatic habitats for larvae/tadpoles, and in the case of some streams, electrofishing. Of the eight amphibian species most likely to occur on the reservation, six were present. The long-toed salamander, Pacific treefrog, and spotted frog were found throughout the reservation, but their populations appeared diminished in open agricultural areas of the Mission valley. There is concern about the Western toad that was found breeding at only five sites during the 1993-1994 surveys. The Leopard frog, for which there are six historical sightings in the Mission valley, was absent from all surveys and has probably been extirpated from the area. Populations of the tailed frog were found in seven mountain streams and appear stable. The bullfrog was introduced at several sites in the Lower Flathead River area in the 1970s. It is successfully reproducing at two localities along the Flathead River and along approximately nine miles of Camas Creek. Populations along Camas Creek appear to be the result of range expansion. A monitoring program was set up in 1995 to assess species abundance at approximately 17 sites across the reservation on a 3-5 year cycle.