Attachment 6 SNFaqSpp_RdMaintPresentation_20200715r (002).pdf

Yosemite toads and their habitat around roads on the Sierra National Forest

Yosemite toad Federal Threatened (4/27/2014)

Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog Federal Endangered (4/27/2014)

There are 4 frogs and 2 toad species on the Sierra

National Forest

Foothill yellow-legged frog Forest Service Sensitive –below 5000 ft elevation

Western toad Not listed – below 6,400 ft elevation

Pacific tree frog Not listed – up to 12,000 ft elevation Bullfrog – INVASIVE below 5500 ft elevation

Frogs you most likely will see when working on roads include:

Yosemite toads

• Bumpy, dry skin

• Husky figure

• Don’t hop far, mostly crawl

Pacific tree frogs

• Eye stripe!

• Smaller (size of dime to a quarter)

• Vary in colors

• Hop a LONG way in one stride

OR…

Yosemite Toad Life History

• Endemic to the Sierra Nevada in California

• Elevation Range = about 6,400 to more than 11,000 feet

• Live 12-15 years

• Mature around 3-5 yrs (males) or 4-6 yrs (females)

• Hibernate underground/snow from about early October through May

• Depending on snow levels/elevation, breeding starts in May or as late as

June, and is usually in meadow habitats

• Move up to 0.78 miles or farther from a breeding meadow

• Spend most of their lives in dry upland terrestrial habitats in rodent burrows, rock or log crevices, or in burrows around old decaying stumps

• Move during the day and night, especially during summer rain events

• Listing status: Threatened (April 29, 2014)

Sierra National Forest Yosemite Toad Populations

Overlap of roads with Yosemite toad habitat

• 448 known occupied meadows with YT (out of about

11,000 meadows above 6,400 ft.

elevation)

Bass Lake Ranger District Yosemite toad habitat overlap with roads

High Sierra Ranger District

Overlap of occupied toad habitat with roads

Overlap of roads with Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog habitat

• About 50 known occupied sites with

SNYLF (out of 2,600 lakes, 11,600 meadows, 1,200 miles of perennial streams above 5,000 ft. elevation)

Toads and

Terrestrial / Upland

Habitats

Site B

Location of multiple toads found along road side in 2 burrows. Tracked to this location every year for 4 years.

Video of open upland habitat were a Yosemite toad was tracked to. Approximately 300 meters from an occupied breeding meadow.

Site H

Site H

Location along road where toad was tracked to.

Located here for up to 4 weeks.

Site I – General habitat of where toad was tracked to.

Near meadow 520M25 – looking across road up towards the east. Occupied meadow annually.

Open ‘sandy’ terrestrial/upland habitat and burrow a Yosemite toad was tracked to.

Please don’t park vehicles, pile brush, or walk through here.

General terrestrial / upland habitat next to road

General terrestrial / upland habitat

9S09/9S02 Yosemite toad Road Mortality 2017

Yosemite Toad Road Mortality

Yosemite Toad Road Mortality continued…

Kaiser Pass Road Mortality 2017-19

Yosemite Toad Road Mortality

What should you do when working in frog and toad occupied habitat?

1. Know if you will be working in occupied habitat. Has the LOP started?

2. Has it rained recently? If so, coordinate with Steph!

3. Watch where you step when walking around your project site – even when on the road.

4. Be on the lookout at the project site for toads. Toads are under rocks and logs or in gopher holes. They are also randomly just out and about.

5. Flag areas to avoid where you find toads in burrows near or around work areas.

6. Take care while doing your daily activities not to crush rodent burrows when walking around work sites or parking.

What should you do in frog and toad occupied habitat? Continued….

1. Removing a log from the road?

• Make sure there are no toads around the log prior to cutting. If there is a toad, allow it to move away first.

• Make sure the location you roll the log to is not habitat for toads, or to a meadow or stream.

• Don’t create dispersal barriers to toads with logs.

2. Brushing?

• Make sure you are not putting brush in open areas with lots of rodent burrows or around stumps.

3. Need to Park?

• Use existing turn outs – but remember toads can be there too.

• Avoid parking in open lupine areas unless you look to see if rodent burrows are not present.

• Don’t turn around in open sandy lupine areas unless you check first for lack of rodent burrows.

What if you see a frog or toad?!

1. If you find it alive, please do not disturb unless it is an emergency. To move it, ensure hands are clean. Relocate to an area in the direction the individual was traveling.

2. Notify Stephanie Barnes (HSRD District biologist) of any toad or frog sightings or if you move any toads or frogs ASAP.

3. Flag occupied areas to avoid if possible.

4. If you see a frog or toad (DEAD or ALIVE), document sighting by:

• Take a GPS point (make sure you know your units (i.e. NAD 83)).

• Take a clear photo (or two!) of the animal for

ID.

• Take a photo of the overall habitat found in.

• Note anything unusual and general comments about the encounter.

What do these guys look like again???

Yosemite toads

Second year juveniles

Adults

Male

Female

Yosemite toads in a meadow at breeding time….

Remember ….

…Tree frogs have eye stripes…

Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog

Adult with tadpoles

Juvenile

Adult

Adult

Juvenile

Thank you!