What is the status of the northern leopard frog in Alberta?

The northern leopard frog, once threatened in Alberta, is now making a comeback thanks to successful reintroduction efforts by the provincial government.

How have Alberta's conservation programs helped the northern leopard frog?

Alberta's conservation programs have focused on translocating frogs and releasing eggs to establish new self-sustaining populations of the northern leopard frog across the southern part of the province.

What factors contributed to the historical decline of the northern leopard frog in Alberta?

Experts believe factors like pesticides, habitat destruction, and the introduction of fish into previously fishless waters led to the significant decline of the northern leopard frog in Alberta starting in the 1970s and 1980s.

Home / Environment / Alberta's Threatened Frog Rebounds Through Reintroduction

Alberta's Threatened Frog Rebounds Through Reintroduction

23 Aug

•

Summary

Reintroduction efforts establish new self-sustaining northern leopard frog populations
Frog was once common but saw significant decline starting in 1970s-80s
Over 160,000 tadpoles introduced as part of translocation program since 2007

Alberta's Threatened Frog Rebounds Through Reintroduction

As of August 2025, the northern leopard frog, one of Alberta's most at-risk amphibians, is staging a remarkable comeback. Provincial efforts to help the frog's numbers bounce back have been successful in establishing new self-sustaining populations across the southern portion of the province.

The northern leopard frog was listed as a threatened species in Alberta in 2004 after a significant population decline first noted in the 1970s and 1980s. To address this, the province launched a reintroduction program, translocating frogs and releasing eggs into new areas to create new populations.

Between 2007 and 2014, a total of 163,880 tadpoles were introduced as part of this translocation effort. The program has proven successful, with biologists confirming the presence of self-sustaining northern leopard frog populations in several locations, including Battle River, Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, and Wyndham-Carseland Provincial Park.

While the exact cause of the frog's historical decline remains unclear, experts point to factors like pesticides, habitat destruction, and the introduction of fish into previously fishless waters. However, the availability of suitable habitats has been a key advantage of the reintroduction program, allowing the frogs to establish thriving new populations.

With the growing sustainability and wider distribution of northern leopard frogs in Alberta, the province is optimistic that the species' recovery is well underway, reducing the need for further population introductions for the time being.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.