Spot This Frog in Arizona? Wildlife Officials Want to Hear From You

I started collecting frog figurines when I was about five. Frogs, toads, and other amphibians have always fascinated me. Even though I want to protect them all, I understand that invasive species can harm and even threaten natural habitats.

That brings me to the American Bullfrog. While it might rule its native home in Arizona, it doesn’t belong there, and its presence is causing many problems.

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Why Invasive Species Are Bad News For Arizona

Arizona’s ecosystems are strong and beautiful, but also more fragile than they seem. When a non-native species like the American Bullfrog arrives, it can upset this balance. Invasive species often outcompete native animals, spread disease, and disrupt the food web. Few do this as aggressively as the American Bullfrog.

READ: How Desert Animals Survive Extreme Heat In Arizona

Where The American Bullfrog Came From

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Invasive Species Information Center,  the American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) is native to the eastern and central United States.

People brought this amphibian to Arizona in the early 1900s for food, sport hunting, and aquaculture. It didn’t arrive on its own.

As often happens with invasive species, some bullfrogs escaped or were released as pets and soon spread into ponds, rivers, and stock tanks across the state.

Why It’s A Problem In Arizona

Bullfrogs multiply quickly and can take over an area in no time. They are large, breed rapidly, and eat almost anything they can catch—including native frogs, snakes, turtles, birds, fish, and even small mammals.

It gets even worse. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), bullfrogs also carry diseases like chytrid fungus and ranavirus, which can devastate native amphibians already struggling.

Bullfrog tadpoles are not eaten by many native fish, giving them a survival advantage and allowing their numbers to grow quickly. In southeastern Arizona, bullfrogs now pose a serious threat to species like the Chiricahua leopard frog.

READ: Arizona, You Must Report This Invasive Species Immediately!

Who To Contact If You Find One

Once an invasive species is established, it’s very hard to fix the damage. But with help from groups like the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension and other agencies, we can work to reduce the risk that bullfrogs pose to Arizona’s waterways.

If you see an American Bullfrog in Arizona, especially near streams or wetlands, report it to the Arizona Game and Fish Department or the U.S. Geological Survey’s Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Program. These groups track sightings and organize removal efforts to protect native wildlife.