5) Life history and ecology of the amphibians in Montana is poorly known for most species. 

 Long-term monitoring will provide information on timing of, and habitat requirements needed 

 for, successflil breeding. 



6) We recommend that any areas that are under consideration for mining, road building, 

 extensive logging operations, or other large-scale habitat altering activities be surveyed 

 thoroughly for amphibian presence and breeding activity. Particular attention should be given 

 documenting the presence of either Western Toads or Northern Leopard Frogs. This is 

 particularly important for toads in higher elevation areas where the potential for UV damage is 

 greater. 



Management 



1) With an increasing number of amphibian species declining for various reasons, it seems 

 reasonable to pro-actively manage habitat to support them. While not all ways of preserving 

 these species are currently known, several management activities could certainly negatively 

 impact them. Without adequate breeding areas, amphibians cannot survive, and the types of 

 water used is often species-specific. 



a) Fish stocking in currently fishless lakes and ponds in which amphibians breed should be 

 carefully evaluated. Fish introductions are thought to be a major factor in frog declines in 

 the Sierra Nevada Mountains and probably elsewhere as well (Hayes and Jennings 1986). 



b) When "improving" springs or seeps for livestock, leave a portion of the area suitable for 

 amphibian reproduction. This could include a small fenced-off area above where water is 

 diverted for storage in a watering tank. 



c) Springs, seeps, and both permanent and temporary ponds should be considered when 

 analyzing effects of land management activities such as grazing, logging, and road 

 building. 



2) A critical component of the life cycle in snakes is the wintering den. Many species hibernate 

 in large aggregations in traditionally-used sites. Often these hibemacula are used by several 

 species, and mating for many species takes place at the den site. Snakes then move out for up to 

 7 miles for the summer, returning in the fall. These sites are typically in areas where snakes can 

 get well down into an area of fractured rock on south-facing slopes, often near cliffs or in talus. 

 While these sites are robust, road building or mining may nonetheless destroy them. Den sites 

 should be protected and data relating to their locations kept where successive biologists have 

 access to them. 



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