Pools for Amphibians
Number 19
North Carolina
supports the
greatest diversity of amphibians in
the United States, some 79
species. Amphibians include frogs,
toads, and salamanders. They are
unique animals that use lungs,
gills, and their skin for breathing.
The majority of North Carolina’s
amphibians live a part of their lives
in water or depend on moist
environments for breeding, egglaying, and survival. However, due
to habitat losses and degradation,
along with increased air and water
pollution, 25% of these species are
currently in various levels
of
decline.
may only breed in forest pools
within mature hardwood forest.
Cover
After breeding, amphibians live in
moist or aquatic habitats and
depend on downed logs, rocks, and
leaf litter for foraging, solitude, and
protection (Cover requirements are
listed in the next table).
Space
Generally homerange size varies
with the size of the amphibian, with
larger amphibians using larger
areas.
Amphibians can be encouraged
on your property by constructing
and maintaining fishless pools.
Fishless pools are critical to
amphibians because fish are
natural amphibian predators and
compete for available food.
Distributed in furtherance
of the acts of Congress of
May 8 and June 30, 1914.
Employment and program
opportunities are offered to
all people regardless of
race, color, national origin,
sex, age, or disability.
North Carolina State
University, North Carolina
A & T State University, US
Department of Agriculture,
and local governments
Food and Water
Amphibians are an important link in
the food chain and depend on a
variety of foods including: crayfish,
earthworms, snails, insects and
their larvae, and algae.
Many amphibians depend on
temporary pools
for breeding,
egg-laying or the juvenile stage of
development. Some salamanders
Marbled Salamander
Protect What's There
Protect and enhance existing pools
prior to building new ones.
North Carolina
Cooperative Extension Service
North Carolina State University
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
College of Forest Resources
Page 2
Choosing a Site
Identify and protect the key habitats listed
below:
♦
Amphibian Cover
Requirements
Be careful not to choose sites prone to
flooding. Flooding can flush the pool or
allow fish invasion.
♦
Pools must be located adjacent to the
protective cover that amphibians require
after breeding.
♦
Establish diverse plant communities in
areas surrounding pools.
♦
Selective thinning of woodlots promotes the
open spaces and edge vegetation
preferred by amphibians.
Breeding
Postbreeding
(January-July)
(August-December)
Streamside areas
Downed logs
Floodplain pools
Moist or shaded rock
outcrops
Beaver ponds
Failed farm ponds
Wet seeps
Woodland road-ruts
Headwaters of
streams
Stump holes
Natural pools in
mature
pine/hardwood
stands
Upland depressions
Holes from
windthrown trees
After key areas are protected, additional pools
can be built with only a little money, time, and
work. Pool costs can vary from less than $50
for the smallest plastic-lined backyard pools to
hundreds, even thousands of dollars for
woodland pools of up to 1/4 acre. Inexpensive
fishless pools can also be constructed with only
a shovel by filling in old drainage ditches to
allow water to stand.
Pools are easiest to fill and maintain on sites
with a high water table and a clay soil-type. In
sandy or loamy soils, locate pool sites in close
proximity to wetland areas. Always consult
with local authorities before disturbing
existing or potential wetlands.
N.C. Cooperative Extension Service
Pool Construction
♦ After carefully choosing a site, use
shovels, bulldozer, tractor or backhoe to
excavate a shallow depression not more
than 3' feet deep. Never work alone when
using heavy equipment!
♦
Ideal pool size ranges from 20'x 30' to 1/4
acre in size.
Working With Wildlife # 19 - Pools for Amphibians
Page 3
Surprisingly, smaller pools often can support
more breeding species than larger pools. While
larger pools do not dry up as frequently, they
may attract green frogs and bullfrogs - the
primary predators of many other amphibians.
♦
Optimal pool depth is between 1 1/2' and 2
1/2'. Because sunlight can reach the bottom
of shallow pools, they are more productive
with a greater availability of food, cover, and
egg-laying sites.
♦
"Prime" new pools by adding vegetation,
substrate, and even amphibian egg masses
from nearby sites. This will speed up the
maturity of the pool and enable amphibians
to establish breeding sites sooner.
♦
Complete new pools before winter since
the majority of amphibians breed from late
January to July. Pool construction is easiest
during dry, summer months.
Common North Carolina
Amphibians:
Spotted Salamander
Southern Cricket Frog
Fowler’s Toad
Pickerel Frog
Bullfrog
Marbled Salamander
Southern Chorus Frog
Cope’s Gray Tree Frog
Southern Leopard Frog
Spring Peeper
Maintenance of Pools
Pools are easy to manage. Follow these steps
to improve and protect fishless pools:
♦
Install spillways to maintain the proper pool
depth in areas prone to flooding.
♦
Keep pool clean by fencing riparian and wet
areas to exclude livestock.
♦
Minimize disturbance in pool areas.
♦
Place shelters such as rotten logs, slabs,
and brush piles on north-facing slopes of
pools. Amphibians will also readily use old
boards and rock piles adjacent to pools.
♦
Manage the immediate area for downed
logs and the other constantly moist habitats
needed by amphibians
Prepared by:
M.A. Megalos, Extension Forestry Specialist,
J.C. Turner, Extension Associate,
E.J. Jones, Department Extension Leader,
A.L. Braswell, Curator of Amphibians, N.C. State Museum of Natural Science
N.C. Cooperative Extension Service
Working With Wildlife # 19 - Pools for Amphibians
Page 4
References:
Amphibians and Reptiles of the Carolinas and Virginia. B.S. Martof et.
al. The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill. 1980.
“A Guide To Amphibian and Reptile Conservation”. T.R. Johnson.
Missouri Department of Conservation publication 1979.
Biology of Amphibians. W.E. Duellman and L. Trueb. McGraw-Hill Book
Co. New York. 1986.
Other Wildlife Notes Available:
No. 1 - Endangered Species
No. 14 - Snags and Downed Logs
No. 2 - Eastern Gray Squirrel
No. 15 - Managing Edges for Wildlife
No. 3 - White-tailed Deer
No. 16 - Buildling Songbird Boxes
No. 4 - Songbirds
No. 17 - Woodland Wildlife Nest Boxes
No. 5 - Wild Turkey
No. 18 - Low Cost Habitat Improvements
No. 6 - Wood Duck
No. 19 - Pools for Amphibians
No. 7 - Cottontail Rabbit
No. 20 - Hummingbirds and Butterflies
No. 8 - Bobwhite Quail
No. 21 - Bats
No. 9 - Ruffed Grouse
No. 22 - Owls
No. 10 - Black Bear
No. 23 - Beaver Pond Management
No. 11 - Raccoons
No. 24 - Herbaceous Plants for Wildlife
No. 12 - Mourning Doves
No. 25 - SIP Wildlife Opportunities
No 13 - Wildlife Terms
“Pickerel Frog” and “Pool” illustrations used by permission from the Missouri Department
of Conservation from “A Guide to Amphibian and Reptile Conservation”, T.R. Johnson.
1979, 14p.
FOREST STEWARDSHIP
a cooperative program for
improving and maintaining all of the
resources on private forestland
N.C. Cooperative Extension Service
Working With Wildlife # 19 - Pools for Amphibians