Babocomari River in southeast Arizona

American bullfrogs are causing big problems for our native wildlife in Arizona. These non-native frogs are a threat to species like the federally threatened Chiricahua leopard frog and northern Mexican garter snake. Bullfrogs breed quickly and spread far, making it tough to control their numbers. But there’s good news! The Arizona CRU on the campus of the University of Arizona has successfully removed bullfrogs from several areas in southeast Arizona, helping the Chiricahua leopard frog thrive once again. Previous management efforts have successfully eradicated bullfrogs in several areas of southeast Arizona which has greatly facilitated increases in Chiricahua leopard frog distribution and abundance. To keep these areas bullfrog-free, managers are intensively monitoring adjacent buffer zones where any bullfrogs moving in are immediately removed. With the data we gather, we’re working to improve our strategies for controlling bullfrogs and boosting the recovery of our native frogs. This long-term study is a team effort involving Arizona Game and Fish, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management.