Columbia Spotted Frog
These amphibians may be light to dark brown, gray, or olive green with dark spots. The underside of their bellies is bright red, orange or salmon-colored. They can grow to be about two to four inches long.
Habitat: These frogs live near cold streams and lakes or near wetlands. Scientists have found that these frogs like to move from water body to water body in spring and summer. You might see one if you hike up to an alpine lake in the summer.
Food: Ground-dwelling insects and spiders
Fun Facts: These little frogs make a series of short, rapid croaks, much smaller-sounding than bull frogs.
Repairing Circle Pond benefits Columbia spotted frogs
Circle Pond is a manmade pond located off the Mud Flat Road, about 70 miles south-southwest of Boise. The pond's sub-population of Columbia spotted frogs is a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act. A breach discovered in 2009 was lowering the pond's holding capacity and causing it to dry out earlier in the summer, making spotted frog tadpoles and metamorphs more vulnerable to depredation as they matured and readied for dispersal or hibernation.
In October 2011, the breach was repaired to bolster its capacity to hold water. A backhoe excavated the breached berm, and multiple loads of soil were added to lift the berm to its former level. This eliminates the need to maintain temporary patches and enhance water levels during dry years. An old, downed barbed-wire fence that threatened to entangle wildlife was also removed.
Columbia spotted frog in Circle Pond | 
Circle Pond, after improvements |
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