Researchers work to conserve habitat while uncovering the secrets of a little- known . The Secret Life of the Chorus Story By Jeanne Townsend Handy weeks between winter’s close and Peak breeding of the state-threatened spring’s heyday, seeking pools that devel- Photos By Tom Handy Illinois typically occurs op during a period extending roughly from late February to late April. ur need for exploration from the end of February to mid-May and discovery has sent us before drying up and disappearing. searching for life beyond When the pools disappear, so too do the consin glaciation isolated what became our planet and to the . What happens next? Where do known as the Illinois chorus frog ocean’s bottom where they go? No one knows for sure. (Pseudacris streckeri illinoensis) from Oinexplicable creatures survive at unimag- Despite the fact these frogs are little- the original population, reducing its inable depths. Yet there is known and rarely seen, they have likely range to a few localities in Illinois, Mis- still little-known life been in Illinois for thousands of years. It souri and Arkansas. existing in our very is thought that the Strecker’s chorus frog In this state, the Illinois chorus frog is midst—strange, myste- (Pseudacris streckeri), from which this restricted to sandy areas along the lower rious beings that often subspecies evolved, most likely dis- portion of the Illinois River floodplain in face perilous futures. persed along the Mississippi Tazewell, Mason, Menard, Cass, One such creature is the River and through the valley of Morgan and Scott counties, Illinois chorus frog—a one- the lower Illinois River 8,000 with additional isolated and-a-half-inch-long, state- to 5,000 years ago when populations found along the threatened amphibian that burrows into extensive remnants of sand Mississippi River floodplain in the ground using its forelimbs like an terraces and an overflow Madison, Monroe and Alexan- Olympic swimmer performing the breast of glacial meltwater into der counties. Once isolated stroke. Existing within Illinois in only the Illinois River valley from the original population, nine counties, this frog spends two-thirds allowed for optimal these began of its life beyond human view—and mobility. But climatic evolving and adapting to fill beyond our knowledge of its actions. changes following the Wis- restricted niches featuring They call the breeding pools of the sandy soils and ponds that Illinois chorus frog “ephemeral,” and this Illinois chorus frogs are dry seasonally, thereby elimi- word could be used to describe the frogs nating many would-be predators. restricted to floodplains themselves. Surviving in the Midwest However, restricted ranges within isolated pockets, they emerge along the Illinois, Mississippi often spell disaster for a species, from the ground during the fleeting and Ohio rivers. March 2011 OutdoorIllinois / 9 making it more vulnerable to habitat loss. needs, almost always provides additional In central Illinois, populations appear to habitat. “So we have some habitat out Partnership be doing well despite their dependence there in public ownership or dedicated for chorus frogs on wetlands typically found in agricultur- as nature preserves (see www.dnr.state. he restoration and protection ally productive areas. Yet, in Arkansas, il.us/INPC/index.htm) that are providing T efforts for the Illinois chorus frog the Illinois chorus frog’s range shrank by long-term benefits,” Bluett said. are a partnership between federal, 61 percent after a lengthy drought and But as is so often the case in this state state and local agencies and private the advent of laser land-leveling, which is where more than 96 percent of the land landowners. Landowners in Mason, used to increase crop production through is in private ownership, conservation Menard, Cass, Tazewell, Morgan, Scott, the elimination of depressions that might challenges must be faced as a collabora- Madison, Monroe and Alexander coun- ties who are interested in learning otherwise develop into ephemeral ponds. tive effort. more about opportunities for creating Therefore, the race has been on to “Conservation of habitat on private or restoring wetlands should contact protect and learn more about these lands is critical because that is where their local USDA Natural Resources quirky creatures that use what has jok- most populations of this frog occur,” Conservation Service office. ingly been referred to as their “Popeye Bluett said. He explained that it does not arms” to dig forward into the ground take much habitat to provide what cho- rather than using hind feet in a back- rus frogs need and that most areas pro- How far do they travel underground? ward-burrowing motion like other frogs. viding opportunities for conservation No one knows. What do they do in the Bob Bluett, a wildlife biologist with are too wet to provide consistent yields daylight hours when they are above the Department of Natural Resources, for producers. ground during the breeding season? believes that providing a “safety net” will Federal farm programs, such as State Their secretive behavior makes it nearly be cheaper and more effective than Acres for Wildlife Enhancement, already impossible to find out. People who con- responding to a crisis such as the one provide incentives for retiring wetlands duct Illinois chorus frog surveys are Arkansas experienced, when habitat con- from crop production and protecting forced to wait until the cover of night to servation might not be enough. them with buffers of prairie plants. In conduct equally secretive nocturnal “We have a solid base of past conser- addition, areas that do not qualify for farm investigations, driving to remote areas vation efforts,” said Bluett. “We have sev- programs often are eligible for technical where the frogs are thought likely to be eral preserves that were designed and and cost-share assistance from the U.S. breeding, listening for their distinctive improved specifically for this species.” In Fish and Wildlife Service or other sources. breeding call, which, on a good night, addition, land set aside for endangered “This is just what the doctor ordered can be heard from a mile away. Illinois mud turtles, which have similar for the Illinois chorus frog,” said Bluett. “If other endangered species screamed “All we need to do is tweak things so like they do, we’d know a lot more about The Illinois chorus frog is a these practices are concentrated in areas them,” joked Vern LaGesse, president of unique amphibian that, unlike where they will do the most good.” In the Friends of the Sangamon Valley orga- turn, this win-win scenario provides opti- nization and who has been involved in other frogs, uses its forelegs in a mism that we may continue to uncover conducting surveys. Many of the breast-stroke motion to burrow more clues to the whereabouts of these ephemeral wetlands the species rely upon into the ground. mysterious creatures. are nothing more than flooded fields and ditches. Maps created by DNR’s Andrew Hulin, a geographic information specialist, indicate potential sites of Illinois chorus frog habitat, with many sites found in Mason, Menard and Cass counties. At one such site on a cool March evening, LaGesse returned to where the frogs had been heard calling. Again, their vocalizations rang out. He pulled to the side of the road and donned a head- lamp in preparation for the seemingly impossible task of finding the diminu- tive, creatures in a water-filled ditch alongside a farm field. The frogs fell silent. “When you walk up, they will burrow right into the leaf litter or drop in the pool so you can’t see them—it’s not like 10 / OutdoorIllinois March 2011 Eggs within a sticky jelly envelope are deposited by the female on small twigs or grass stems that emerge from the water at a 45-degree angle. their eyes glow like a bullfrog’s,” LaGesse explained as he circled the water, his headlamp casting a narrow tunnel of illu- mination across the pool and into the surrounding vegetation, which is another important component of suitable habitat. “What I found is that I can whistle for them,” he said. And he explained that whistling at just the right frequency—a frequency he has mastered—would cause them to float to the surface and start call- ing. “There seems to be an acoustic range sador because its threatened status helps ery in Oakford, where a series of wetland that stimulates them, and once I started anchor comprehensive conservation areas were created through the Partners calling them, they were no match for efforts that benefit waterfowl, game birds, for Fish and Wildlife program to battle me,” he chuckled. Sure enough, a mating songbirds, insects and other creatures that erosion issues, patrons can now enjoy pair soon appeared. Nearby, a mass of share wetlands and sand prairies with the the spring sounds of a threatened species eggs swayed on a stem of grass. Illinois chorus frog. Largely because of the while sipping their wine. Yet, beyond their breeding activities, chorus frogs, DNR expanded the Mason “Our goal is the delisting [from threat- these frogs continue to live covert lives. It Sands Conservation Opportunity Area in ened status] of the chorus frog by 2025, is not known how quickly they go into 2009 to include all of Mason County and which is pretty exciting to me because hibernation after burrowing into the parts of Menard and Cass counties. COAs I think we stand a fairly good chance of ground or how far they travel. Telemetry are tied directly to species in greatest coming close to that,” Bluett said. is impossible because they are too tiny need of conservation, and data gathered Meanwhile, the frogs continue to for transmitters, and tracking them under- in the last two years about the habitat and divulge their secrets. It is now known ground presents an even greater chal- distribution of the Illinois chorus frog was that they are hibernating at a depth just lenge. To tackle this challenge, LaGesse key to justifying the expansion. below the frost line, this knowledge has been brainstorming with the Illinois Additional wildlife habitat also bene- coming from genetic work showing that EPA to determine if the ground-penetrat- fits another species—people. One pri- the dark marks on their skin are frost ing radar used to search for unexploded vate landowner who manages his land burn rather than a natural coloration. It is ordnance could pick up chorus frogs primarily for hunting used the Landown- thought that continued genetic work implanted with some type of metal. er Incentive Program to construct two, might prove that the Illinois chorus frog Why go to so much effort? Well, one small wetlands to attract deer. LaGesse is a new species rather than a sub- could cite the ongoing need for explo- found a pair of Illinois chorus frogs species, or variation. ration, the need to know. But also, in a breeding in one of the wetlands less than “We’re not looking to have frogs way, the Illinois chorus frog is an ambas- a year after it was completed. At a win- everywhere all the time,” Bluett stated. “But if we can maintain a base of habitat for those frogs when they are ready to Private Landowner Assistance Opportunities leap out and breed, I think we have State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement accomplished a lot.” With a goal toward providing increased prairie and wetland habitat for wildlife such as pheasants, quail, waterfowl and songbirds, the SAFE program offers incentives for landowners to retire unproductive land. Restored grassland and wetland habitat Springfield writer Jeanne Townsend additionally provides increased carbon sequestration, improved soil quality, reduced Handy holds an M.A. in Environmental soil erosion, and improved water quality. More information is available at dnr.state.il. Studies and has been accepted into the us/ORC/SAFE. Society of Environmental Journalists. Tom Handy is a Web specialist for Partners for Fish and Wildlife the Southern Illinois University School of Partners for Fish and Wildlife is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife program that works with Medicine. He spends his free time as a private landowners and other organizations to protect, enhance and restore important freelance photographer and musician. fish and wildlife habitats on private lands. For additional information, contact Gwen Kolb, Illinois State Coordinator at (217) 557-4474 or [email protected].

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