Croak and Dagger: Mission Valley Tackles Bullfrog Mischief

There is a major turf war happening right now in the Mission Valley wetlands, and the locals are losing.

ULTIMATE ECOSYSTEM PARTY-CRASHER

Angela Montana, digital editor and reporter for the Montana Outdoor Radio Show, tells us that the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, along with the Montana Conservation Corps, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and the Montana Invasive Species Council, have officially put out a WANTED poster for the Invasive American Bullfrog.

The charge? Out-competing the locals and literally eating everything in sight.

IF IT FITS IN THEIR MOUTH, IT'S DINNER

These aren’t your average friendly neighborhood amphibians. American bullfrogs are notorious gluttons with zero boundaries. Their current menu includes everything from birds and turtles to Montana's beloved native amphibians. And while they are far from fussy, they seem to have an affinity for the Columbia spotted frog, the northern leopard frog and the western toad.

Because they are pushing out the species that actually belong here, wildlife crews need your eyes and ears to track them down.

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How to Spot the Outlaws:

The Grown-Ups (Adults)

• The Voice: They don’t chirp or ribbit; they have a distinct, low-pitched “Brum” call.
• The Face: Plain and smooth. No fancy stripes, no spots, just a blank stare.
• The Body: Smooth operators. They have no raised back ridges.
• The Size: Massive. They range from 4 to 8 inches long.

The Youth (Tadpoles)

• The Look: Green with flashy black and gold speckles and light yellow bellies.
• The Size: Absolute units. They can grow up to 6 inches long—making them significantly larger than any native tadpole species you’ll find in the area.

SEE SOMETHING? SAY SOMETHING

If you do hear that telltale “Brum” or spot a frog the size of a dinner plate while you’re out in the Mission Valley, the Bullfrog Crew wants to hear about it.

You can tip off the authorities by emailing missionvalley.bullfrogcrew@gmail.com.

Let’s help the native frogs and other species reclaim their turf!