Biologists find a high rate of deformities in Alaska wood frogs:
The frogs can be found in Southcentral, including Turnagain Arm. Researchers seek citizen assistants in collecting data.

By Jim Magowan
Turnagain Times Correspondent

Amphibians around the world are facing mass extinction due to habitat loss and environmental pollution. They are also commonly being found with deformities, and Alaska is no exception.
According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, six amphibian species are native to Alaska but, only one, the wood frog, inhabits Southcentral Alaska, including Turnagain Arm.
The wood frog has been found all the way up to the Brooks Range. How does it handle freezing temperatures? Simple, it freezes, solid. The wood frog can survive being frozen.
Amphibians all over the world, including Alaska’s six species are becoming the subject of intense research. The reason for the interest in amphibians is that they are experiencing problems that could have implications for humans.
“Amphibians are bioindicators,” said David Tessler, regional biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game during an interview at his office. “Like the canaries in coal mines they can give an early warning of environmental problems. Because they breathe through their skin, they readily absorb and react to chemicals and gases from the environment.”
Biologists believe amphibians may be indicating something is going on in the environment but, they are not sure exactly what it is. Worldwide, amphibian populations are declining.
Tessler spoke about a tendency toward worldwide extinction of amphibian populations.
“One half of all amphibian species are endangered and two thirds of amphibian species are threatened,” said Tessler.
Population decreases are not the only problem amphibians are experiencing. Scientists have begun seeing increased numbers of abnormal or malformed amphibians. The exact cause or causes of these abnormalities is not yet known. Possibilities include genetics, environmental toxins, infections and even predation by dragon fly larvae.
Tessler said that the chytrid fungus, which is believed to have originated in South Africa, has infected amphibians throughout the world. This fungus first discovered in amphibians in 1999 has since been associated with amphibian population decline on every continent with amphibians and it is credited with wiping out the boreal toad populations in the west.
Are the malformed toes and other body parts of wood frogs (and other frogs throughout the world) caused by chytrid infection, dragon fly attacks on frog larvae or chemicals in the environment? Those were some of the questions raised at a recent symposium on amphibians in Alaska.
That’s what scientists are trying to find out and the public can help.
“While wood frogs are not currently endangered in Alaska, they are experiencing a high rate of malformations,” said Tessler. “Wood frogs have a high rate of deformity compared with the base.”
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service researchers have found high rates of malformation in northwest refuges in Alaska, and in Eklutna and the Kenai Wildlife Refuge. Biologists hope that the Citizens Science Program will help to collect important information on the extensiveness of the deformities in areas like the Kenai and Cook Inlet, including Turnagain Arm.
As of now, it is unknown what is causing these malformations; among the possible causes are a fungal infection and environmental pollution. Chytrid fungus infection is widespread among wood frogs.
“We do not have a complete picture of the distribution of wood frogs in Alaska nor of exactly what habitats they prefer,” Tessler said. “The Citizen Science Program has been started to get a better picture of the distribution and habitat of wood frogs. We will never have the funds available to hire biologists to look for wood frogs throughout Alaska, but Alaskans can do it through the Citizen Science project.”
For more information or to get involved in the Citizens Science Program, check out the website www.akfrogs.net.
Incidentally, the Citizens Science Program is not just about frogs; it includes other non-game species as well so you can help do research on your favorite non-game species even if it is not an enchanted prince. Ultimately the Citizen Science Program is intended to be a national program to help understand the impact of climate change on wildlife.
Unlike many other frogs, wood frogs often leave the water, after their metamorphosis from tadpoles, and spend most of their time on land. Hunters sometimes encounter masses of tiny frogs when hiking in wet areas, in August. These ‘swarms’ of frogs are wood frogs, just metamorphosed from tadpoles into frogs, before they disperse. Reporting these encounters can help biologists better identify where wood frogs reproduce and give greater insight into wood frog reproduction.
Tessler had a few final words and suggestions regarding interactions with amphibians in general, and wood frogs in particular.
It is against the law to touch any amphibian in Alaska, he stated. It’s a law not only to protect the frogs, but it also protects humans.
Some frog species (not wood frogs) excrete powerful toxins through their skin, and, while touching a wood frog might not harm a human, unfortunately the reverse may not be true. Touching a frog could transmit harmful chemicals or infections to the frog and could be passed on to other frogs.
Once captured, whether legally with a permit or illegally, wood frogs should not be released back into the wild. Captured frogs may appear healthy but could have picked up diseases or infections from their contact with humans. Releasing them back into the wild might introduce another devastating infection into the wild population.
If you observe a wood frog note, as precisely as possible, the location, date and time where you saw it. If you happen to have a GPS get the coordinates from it. If you see a frog that looks different from a wood frog, get a description or, better yet, a photograph and report it. A concern is that non-native species may be released in Alaska. It is particularly important to report and, if possible photograph deformed frogs.
One final note: rough skinned newts, large salamander like animals do not come as far north as Turnagain Arm, but are often encountered when hiking in southeast Alaska. These guys are toxic. An Oregon partier swallowed one on a dare with fatal results. If you should accidentally touch one of them, do not put your hands in your mouth or near mucous membranes (eyes, etc.) before thoroughly washing your hands.
For more information on Alaska amphibians or the Citizens Science Program search online or call Dave Tessler at 907-267-2332 or by email at dave.tessler@ak.gov.
The Citizen Science Program is a partnership of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chugach National Forest, The Alaska Zoo, and The Alaska Natural Heritage Program.