In 1997, based on this and an increasing number of reports of abnormal amphibians, Regions 3 and 5 of the Service collaborated in developing a methodology for monitoring malformed frogs on national wildlife refuges and wetland management districts.

The objectives of the monitoring were to determine whether this phenomenon was occurring on Service lands, to develop a database that would include land use surrounding Service amphibian monitoring sites, and to contribute to the overall knowledge of the regional and national distribution of the phenomenon. 

The report covers the 2007 field season.  During that field season, monitoring was attempted at six Service properties in Region 3.  All of the refuges had been previously sampled but required additional monitoring to meet the sampling goals. 

Sites visited include:  Shiawassee NWR (Michigan), Big Oaks NWR (Indiana), Mingo NWR (Missouri), Squaw Creek NWR (Missouri), Minnesota Valley NWR (Iowa), and Seney NWR (Michigan).  Sampling at Mingo and Shiawassee NWRs was unsuccessful.

For a copy of the report, please contact Robin McWilliams-Munson at the Bloomington, Indiana Ecological Services Field Office.  A fact sheet developed in March of 2003 by the Division of Environmental Quality in the Washington Office is available (including online at the FWS national web site under the Environmental Quality Program) and briefly describes the project and its objectives.