Dusky Gopher Frogs

The longleaf pine forest is one of the most biodiverse landscapes in the world, and the Land Trust is working to both protect remnants and reestablish it where possible. This forest type historically covered a huge area across the southern US, but today only about three percent of the original habitat remains in relatively small, fragmented patches. Dominated by longleaf pine trees, the forest type has a rich and diverse herbaceous understory. It provides critical habitat for nearly thirty threatened and endangered species, including the gopher tortoise, indigo snake, red-cockaded woodpecker and dusky gopher frog.

The dusky gopher frog is a about three inches long, ranging in color from black to brown or gray, and is covered with dark spots and warts. By the time it was listed as an endangered species, it was only found living near four ponds here in southern Mississippi. The Land Trust owns a property adjacent to one of these ponds, which the frogs use for breeding. We have been working with federal and state agencies to improve and increase the habitat for these rare frogs by reestablishing a dry longleaf pine forest around the pond through invasive species removal, tree planting and burning regimes.