Without updated field data, the current conservation status of Blanchard’s Cricket Frogs (Acris blanchardi), Rio Grande Leopard Frogs (Rana berlandieri), and Plains Leopard Frogs (Rana blairi) remains unclear. All three anuran species are listed as a SGCN in the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP), emphasizing the urgent need for updated field data to inform management and conservation actions.  Anecdotal reports suggest that these species may have declined in recent years, particularly in areas affected by drought, groundwater depletion, and river management practices. The combined survey and management proposed here will generate contemporary occurrences data for these species and help address the threat and risk posed by invasive American Bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana). The resulting data will guide effective habitat management, restoration, and species recovery efforts—directly supporting the goals of the New Mexico SWAP and the conservation of biodiversity in the Pecos River basin.

Grant Title: Assessing the Distribution and Threats of SGCN frogs in Eastern New Mexico