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Alpine Tree Frog (Litoria verreauxii alpina)

The Alpine Tree Frog, *Litoria verreauxii alpina*, is a small, ground dwelling frog of alpine and subalpine wetlands in south eastern Australia. It may be encountered around ponds, bogs, fens, stream pools and drainage channels during works in high country areas, where disturbance can affect breeding habitat and overwintering shelter. The alpine subspecies is listed as Vulnerable nationally, Endangered in New South Wales, Critically Endangered in Victoria and Vulnerable in the Australian Capital Territory.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Vulnerable.

New South Wales, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Endangered.

Victoria, Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988: Critically endangered.

Australian Capital Territory, Nature Conservation Act 2014: Vulnerable.

Breeding season

The Alpine Tree Frog breeds mainly from spring to summer, with calling and breeding activity recorded from September to February. Timing varies with altitude, rainfall and temperature, and may extend into early autumn at higher elevations.

Breeding mode: Eggs are attached in clusters to submerged sticks, plants or other vegetation in still or slow-flowing water.

Breeding places: Breeding occurs in ponds, bogs, fens, streamside pools, dams, drainage channels and other natural or artificial wetlands.

Clutch size: Not recorded.

Incubation period: Not recorded.

Larval development: Larval development is reported as about three months in some guidance, but may take 3 to 12 months depending on conditions and altitude.

Metamorphosis: Tadpoles develop in the breeding pool and become froglets by late summer in suitable conditions.

Age at maturity: Not recorded.

Seasonal activity can shift with altitude, rainfall, temperature, drought and water permanence, so inspect suitable wetlands and adjacent ground habitat before works in any season.

  • Adult calling and breeding activity: Males call near or in breeding water, with activity increasing in spring and early summer and often following rain.
  • Eggs and tadpoles in breeding water: Eggs and tadpoles may be present from late winter or spring through summer, with timing varying between sites and years.
  • Froglet emergence and dispersal from pools: Froglets emerge after metamorphosis, usually by late summer, although development may be delayed at high elevation or in cool conditions.
  • Ground activity and foraging: Adults are ground dwelling and use wetland margins, grassland, heath, woodland and other nearby ground habitats, with greatest activity during warmer breeding conditions.
  • Winter shelter and refuge use: During colder months, frogs may shelter under rocks, fallen logs, leaf litter and other ground debris near wetlands and creeks.
  • Highest clearing risk: Clearing, earthworks and vehicle movement are most likely to affect eggs, tadpoles, froglets and concentrated calling adults from September to February, especially around breeding wetlands.

Identification: Appearance and size

The Alpine Tree Frog is a small, variable coloured frog that spends much of its time on the ground. Identification can be difficult where the related Whistling Tree Frog occurs, so record the elevation, habitat and call as well as the animal’s appearance.

Adults may be green, brown, grey, cream or olive. A dark stripe runs from the nostril, through the eye and towards the shoulder or foreleg. A broad, often divided brown stripe extends down the back.

The alpine form commonly has extensive dorsal warting and a rough back, especially at higher elevations. The belly is usually white or cream. The backs of the thighs and groin may be yellow, orange or reddish with darker markings.

Tadpoles: Dark olive brown above, with a coppery sheen along the sides and underside.

  • Small body, generally about 3 cm long.
  • Toes are partly webbed, with toe pads about the same width as the toes.
  • The species does not climb well and is usually found on or close to the ground.

Identification: Calls and similar species

The call is a series of rising, trilled whistles, often described as “cree, cree, cree” or “weeeee, weeeee, weeeee”. Males call from the water margin, among floating vegetation, from grass or sedges, or from the bank.

The main identification issue is separation from the lower altitude form, the Whistling Tree Frog, *Litoria verreauxii verreauxii*. The Alpine Tree Frog is associated with higher elevations, has a rougher and more warty back, and commonly shows green or olive dorsal markings.

  • Listen during spring, summer and early autumn, especially after rain.
  • Use a recording or expert review where the call is uncertain.
  • Do not rely on colour alone, because colour varies considerably.

Identification: Field signs and handling

Look for frogs sitting among wet grass, sedges, leaf litter, logs or rocks beside water. Tadpoles may be visible in shallow, warmer water near the surface or in mid water.

There are no distinctive nests, droppings, whitewash marks or odours that can be used reliably for site detection. Eggs are attached in clusters to submerged sticks or vegetation.

  • Photograph the dorsal pattern, side stripe, thighs and habitat where safe to do so.
  • Minimise handling. Follow amphibian hygiene procedures between wetlands to reduce disease transfer.
  • Record the waterbody, nearby ground cover, elevation and weather conditions.

Distribution: Australian range

The Alpine Tree Frog is restricted to the high country of south eastern mainland Australia. Records are sparse in some areas, so suitable habitat should be assessed even where recent records are absent.

The alpine subspecies occurs in alpine and subalpine areas of south eastern New South Wales and Victoria, generally above about 1,100 m elevation. It is associated with the Snowy Mountains, the Victorian Alps and other high country locations.

The subspecies may still occur in the Australian Capital Territory, although earlier surveys did not detect it there. The broader species, the Whistling Tree Frog, occurs more widely, including the ACT and other parts of New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.

  • New South Wales, mainly Kosciuszko National Park and the Snowy Mountains.
  • Victoria, including the Victorian Alps, Mount Hotham area and Dargo High Plains.
  • Australian Capital Territory, possible historical or residual occurrence of the alpine subspecies.
  • Queensland records relate to the broader *Litoria verreauxii* species rather than a confirmed Alpine Tree Frog range.

Distribution: Range and listing context

The Alpine Tree Frog formerly occupied much more of the alpine and subalpine high country. It declined markedly after the spread of chytrid fungus and is now known from relatively few locations.

The Commonwealth and New South Wales listings specifically identify the alpine subspecies, *Litoria verreauxii alpina*. State listings should be checked against the current project locality and the relevant population or taxon before works begin.

  • Commonwealth, Vulnerable.
  • New South Wales, Endangered, for the alpine subspecies.
  • Victoria, Critically Endangered, as stated for the project species profile.
  • Australian Capital Territory, Vulnerable, where the relevant taxon or population is covered.

Distribution: Site screening

During project planning, screen all high elevation wetlands and drainage features within or near the work area. Include natural and artificial waterbodies, even where they are small or seasonally wet.

  • Check ponds, bogs, fens, streamside pools, stock dams and drainage channels.
  • Review recent records and previous survey results for the site and nearby catchment.
  • Treat connected wetlands and surrounding ground cover as one functional habitat unit during impact assessment.

Habitat: Vegetation and landform

The Alpine Tree Frog uses a mix of aquatic and terrestrial habitats in alpine and subalpine landscapes. Wetlands are used for breeding, while nearby grassland, heath, woodland and ground debris provide feeding and shelter.

Look for the species in alpine grassland, heathland, herb fields, woodland, moorland and partly cleared high country. Habitat commonly occurs on broad plains, wet depressions, valley floors and gently sloping ground where water collects.

The species is strongly associated with alpine bogs, fens and other wetland complexes. Habitat may occur inside national parks, near alpine resorts, beside roads and around artificial ponds.

  • Alpine and subalpine grasslands.
  • Heathlands and herb fields.
  • Mountain woodlands near wetland margins.
  • Bogs, fens and wet grassland.

Habitat: Water features

Breeding and shelter habitat is most likely around still or slow flowing water. Waterbodies may be natural or artificial and may hold water permanently or seasonally.

  • Small and large ponds.
  • Bog pools and fen channels.
  • Still pools in creeks and streams.
  • Farm dams, reservoirs and roadside drainage channels.
  • Shallow pools and wet depressions that retain water after rain.

Habitat: Habitat condition

Good habitat usually has intact wetland vegetation, natural water levels and ground cover close to the water’s edge. Fallen logs, flat rocks, leaf litter and other debris can provide shelter outside the breeding period.

Inspect the wetland margin as well as the open water. A frog may be hidden several metres from the water under cover, particularly during cold or dry conditions.

  • Retain native vegetation around wetlands.
  • Avoid changes to natural inflows, outflows and drainage patterns.
  • Map wetland edges, nearby shelter and access tracks before clearing or earthworks.

Foraging habitat: Foraging areas

Adults forage mainly on the ground around wetlands and in nearby alpine vegetation. Activity is likely to increase during warm, damp conditions, particularly after rain.

Search the edges of ponds, bogs, streams and wet grassland, along with nearby grass tussocks, sedges, heath and woodland floor. Frogs may move through leaf litter and low vegetation rather than climbing into shrubs or trees.

  • Wetland margins and damp ground.
  • Grass tussocks and sedge beds.
  • Heath and herb fields near water.
  • Leaf litter, logs and rocks close to wetlands.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Adults eat small arthropods, including beetles, flies, spiders and moth larvae. Tadpoles feed in the water on algae, plant material and small aquatic invertebrates.

  • Adult prey is taken with a sticky tongue.
  • Tadpoles may be found from mid water to the surface, especially in shallow, warmer water.
  • Avoid spraying herbicides or pesticides near occupied wetlands unless approved controls are in place.

Foraging habitat: Site practice

Keep vehicle movements, stock access and foot traffic out of wetland margins wherever possible. Before clearing, inspect cover objects and damp ground during suitable weather, and use a qualified fauna spotter catcher where frogs may be present.

  • Do not turn over logs or rocks unnecessarily.
  • Use clean equipment between wetlands.
  • Keep spoil, sediment, concrete washout and contaminated water away from foraging and breeding habitat.

Breeding habitat: Breeding places

Breeding occurs in still or slow moving water, usually during spring and summer. Males gather at wetlands and call from the edge, floating vegetation, grass tussocks or shallow water.

Inspect natural and artificial wetlands for breeding activity. The species has been recorded from ponds, bogs, fens, streamside pools, wet grassland, stock dams and drainage channels.

Eggs are attached in clusters to submerged sticks and vegetation. Tadpoles remain in the waterbody while they develop, so drawdown, infilling or isolation of a pool can affect several life stages.

  • Ponds and shallow pools.
  • Slow flowing streams and streamside pools.
  • Alpine bogs and fens.
  • Small dams, reservoirs and drainage channels.
  • Temporary pools that persist through the breeding season.

Breeding habitat: Timing and survey conditions

Calling and breeding are most likely from spring to summer, often after rain. At higher elevations, breeding activity may continue from spring into mid autumn, depending on temperature and rainfall.

  • A practical survey window is September to February.
  • Tadpoles may be present from late winter through summer, and development can take about three months or longer depending on conditions.
  • Plan repeat visits because calling can vary with rainfall, temperature and season.

Breeding habitat: Works controls

Avoid clearing, filling, draining or disturbing breeding pools. Maintain natural water flows and prevent sediment, pollutants and construction runoff from entering wetlands.

Where works cannot avoid potential breeding habitat, obtain project specific ecological advice and confirm approval, licensing and threatened species requirements before disturbance.

  • Fence or otherwise protect wetland edges from machinery, vehicles, cattle and feral horses.
  • Keep access tracks and laydown areas outside wetland catchments where practicable.
  • Retain submerged and emergent vegetation used for egg attachment.
  • Stop work and seek advice if Alpine Tree Frogs, eggs or tadpoles are found in the impact area.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter features

Non breeding and overwintering habitat is poorly documented, but the species is ground dwelling and uses cover close to wetlands. Cold conditions can make frogs difficult to detect, so absence during a search does not confirm that an area is unoccupied.

Inspect beneath and beside flat rocks, fallen logs, leaf litter, grass tussocks, sedges and other ground debris. Shelters are most likely in damp ground near creek swamps, ponds, bogs and wet grassland.

  • Flat rocks and embedded stones.
  • Fallen logs and coarse woody debris.
  • Leaf litter and dense ground vegetation.
  • Sedge beds, grass tussocks and peatland margins.

Sheltering habitat: Seasonal habitat use

During warmer conditions, adults may be found at wetland margins and in nearby vegetation. During winter and other cold periods, they may remain concealed under ground cover in mountain woodland, grassland and heathland.

  • Inspect cover before clearing or moving materials.
  • Keep retained shelter connected to nearby breeding wetlands.
  • Avoid stockpiling soil, timber or machinery on wetland margins.

Sheltering habitat: Clearance precautions

Use a staged, low impact approach where habitat must be disturbed. Have a fauna spotter catcher inspect logs, rocks, litter and damp ground immediately before movement or clearing.

  • Move cover by hand where practicable.
  • Place relocated natural cover in nearby retained habitat, only under ecological direction.
  • Do not move frogs between catchments or wetlands without the required approval.
  • Apply amphibian hygiene procedures to footwear, nets, gloves and equipment.

Threats: Wetland loss and hydrology

The Alpine Tree Frog has declined substantially across its former range. On works sites, the main risks are damage to wetland hydrology, direct trampling or crushing, pollution, disease spread and loss of nearby ground cover.

Filling, draining, excavation, altered runoff and changes to natural water flows can remove breeding pools or cause them to dry too early. Sediment and erosion can also smother aquatic vegetation and egg attachment sites.

  • Keep natural inflows and outflows functioning.
  • Prevent sediment, fuels, concrete washout, chemicals and dirty water entering wetlands.
  • Do not place spoil, access tracks or drainage outlets in bogs, fens or wetland depressions.
  • Monitor retained wetlands during and after works where hydrology may change.

Threats: Trampling and physical disturbance

Feral horses, cattle, vehicles, machinery and people can compact soil and sphagnum, damage vegetation and crush frogs or shelter features. Alpine wetlands are particularly sensitive to repeated access.

  • Install exclusion fencing around wetlands and retained habitat.
  • Use defined access routes and keep machinery out of wet ground.
  • Control stock and feral animal access where the land manager can do so.
  • Retain logs, rocks, leaf litter and other ground debris.

Threats: Chytrid fungus and pollution

Chytrid fungus, *Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis*, is a major threat and infection rates can be high. Disease can be spread between wetlands on wet footwear, vehicles, nets, gloves and other equipment.

Road runoff, pesticides, herbicides and other pollutants may affect breeding ponds and tadpoles.

  • Use a recognised amphibian hygiene and decontamination protocol.
  • Use dedicated clean equipment where possible.
  • Do not move water, mud, tadpoles or frogs between sites.
  • Store and apply chemicals well away from wetlands and drainage lines.

Threats: Fire, climate and habitat decline

Wildfire, severe drought, climate change, weeds and development can reduce wetland persistence and surrounding ground cover. Small isolated populations are vulnerable to local losses and may not be readily recolonised across deep valleys or other barriers.

  • Protect wetland complexes rather than isolated pools only.
  • Control invasive weeds without damaging wetland hydrology or applying chemicals near water.
  • Retain habitat links between wetlands where practicable.
  • Increase monitoring after fire, drought, major earthworks or changes to water flow.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Survey the Alpine Tree Frog, *Litoria verreauxii alpina*, as a high-altitude, ground-dwelling frog associated with still or slow-flowing water. Use more than one detection method because adults, calling males and tadpoles may be detectable at different times.

Map all natural and artificial wetlands within and adjoining the work area. Include ponds, bogs, fens, streamside pools, dams, drainage channels and wet grassland.

Check for alpine and sub-alpine habitat, woodland, heathland, grassland, herb fields, rocks, logs and leaf litter. Review previous records, aerial imagery, fire history, drought conditions and proposed changes to water flow.

Treat the Alpine Tree Frog as the target subspecies. Do not assume that records of the more widespread Whistling Tree Frog, *Litoria verreauxii*, represent the alpine subspecies.

Main habitat setting: Alpine and sub-alpine wetlands and adjoining ground habitat, generally above 1,100 m above sea level

Known breeding waters: Still or slow-flowing ponds, bogs, fens, streamside pools, dams and drainage channels

Survey methodology: 2. Call and night surveys

Conduct call surveys from September to February, with additional visits in spring, summer and early autumn where conditions remain suitable. Breeding activity may extend from spring to mid-autumn at higher altitudes, and calling is often stimulated by rain.

Survey each waterbody along at least one 200 m transect. Repeat the transect on at least two separate nights. Use two surveyors where auditory abundance estimates are required, and allow about 15 minutes per site for the auditory count method.

Survey after rain or during other suitable warm, humid conditions when frogs are likely to call. Listen from the wetland edge, among vegetation and around shallow pools. Record the distinctive rising whistle, commonly described as 'cree, cree, cree' or 'weeeee'.

Recommended survey period: September to February

Minimum transect effort: One 200 m transect per waterbody, repeated on at least two separate nights

  • Keep lighting low and avoid unnecessary disturbance around the wetland.
  • Do not use call playback unless it has been approved as part of the survey design.
  • Separate confirmed Alpine Tree Frog calls from calls that can only be assigned to *Litoria verreauxii*.

Survey methodology: 3. Tadpole and diurnal habitat searches

Survey for tadpoles in late winter, spring and summer. Use both diurnal and nocturnal searches when dip-netting is undertaken.

Search shallow, warmer water from the mid-water to surface zone. Tadpoles may bask in the upper water layers and have a dark olive-brown back with a coppery sheen.

During daylight, inspect wetland margins, grass tussocks, sedges, rocks, logs and leaf litter. Use hand searches only by trained and authorised personnel, and replace cover objects carefully.

Larval period: About three months is likely, although development may take 3 to 12 months

Tadpole identification: Dark olive-brown back with a coppery sheen along the sides and underside

  • Disinfect nets, boots and other equipment between waterbodies using the approved amphibian hygiene procedure.
  • Avoid dragging equipment or people through sphagnum, bog margins and shallow breeding pools.
  • Stop and seek ecological advice if an unfamiliar frog, mass of eggs or unusual disease sign is found.

Survey methodology: 4. Survey records and interpretation

Record the date, start and finish time, weather, recent rainfall, temperature if measured, wind, cloud, water level, waterbody condition and surveyors.

Map each calling male, adult, tadpole observation, egg cluster and likely refuge. Record the call location, estimated number of callers, habitat condition, water flow, weeds, stock access, feral animal damage and pollution.

Photograph habitat and specimens only where this can be done without handling or disturbance. Submit verified call recordings to an accepted expert review system such as FrogID where appropriate.

Treat a negative survey as inconclusive if conditions were unsuitable, the waterbody was dry, access was limited or the survey did not cover the recommended effort.

  • Retain original call recordings, field sheets, photographs, maps and weather data.
  • Report chytrid concerns, dead frogs, abnormal tadpoles and sudden site changes to the project ecologist and relevant authority.
  • Use repeat auditory surveys for monitoring, rather than relying on capture and recapture, which requires substantially greater effort.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Confirm approvals and species status

Plan works around wetland protection and disease hygiene before people, plant or materials enter the site. The Alpine Tree Frog is listed as vulnerable nationally and in the Australian Capital Territory, endangered in New South Wales and critically endangered in Victoria, so project controls should reflect the highest applicable requirement.

Confirm whether the records relate to the Alpine Tree Frog subspecies, *Litoria verreauxii alpina*, rather than the widespread form of the Whistling Tree Frog. Check the current Commonwealth, state and territory listings before finalising the work method.

Refer the action to the Commonwealth if the project may have a significant impact on this nationally listed species or its habitat. Obtain all required state or territory threatened species approvals, scientific licences and animal ethics or handling approvals before work starts.

In Queensland, confirm the current protected wildlife requirements. If works will tamper with a breeding place, obtain or comply with the required species management program where applicable.

Commonwealth listing: Vulnerable

State and territory listings: New South Wales, endangered; Victoria, critically endangered; Australian Capital Territory, vulnerable

  • Keep copies of approvals, permits, the ecological constraints map and the approved fauna management plan at the site office.
  • Make the principal contractor responsible for checking approval conditions before clearing or construction begins.
  • Escalate any change in footprint, access route, drainage or construction method to the project ecologist.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Complete the pre-clearance survey

Survey all wetlands and adjoining ground habitat within the impact area and areas that may be affected by altered drainage, sediment, noise, vibration or access. Include natural and artificial ponds, bogs, fens, streamside pools, dams and drainage channels.

Complete call surveys on at least two separate nights and use the 200 m per waterbody transect approach. Add tadpole searches and diurnal habitat searches during the appropriate seasonal window.

Have the ecologist map occupied breeding habitat, likely refuge habitat and movement areas between wetlands. Mark these areas clearly in the field and in the construction drawings.

  • Do not clear, drain, fill or disturb a breeding pool before the survey and approval checks are complete.
  • Recheck sites if works are delayed into a different season, after major rain, after fire or after a substantial change in water level.
  • Assume suitable habitat may be occupied where survey conditions were poor.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Set buffers and exclusion controls

Set site-specific no-go areas around breeding water, wetland margins and adjoining refuge habitat. The project ecologist should define the buffer using the approval conditions, hydrology, terrain, likely frog movement and the type of work proposed.

Fence or flag exclusion areas before plant arrives. Keep vehicles, spoil, concrete washout, fuels, chemicals, stock and temporary access routes outside these areas.

Protect natural water levels and flow paths. Design erosion, sediment, drainage and dewatering controls so that muddy water or contaminated runoff cannot enter breeding habitat.

  • Use a wider exclusion area where the work may alter groundwater, surface flow, shading, wetland structure or bog and fen hydrology.
  • Keep logs, rocks, leaf litter and other ground debris in retained habitat unless the approved ecologist directs otherwise.
  • Prevent access by cattle, feral horses and other stock to retained breeding habitat where the land manager can support that control.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Induct the crew and prepare the fauna plan

Give all supervisors, operators, spotter catchers and subcontractors a site induction before work. Show photographs and identification features, including the warty back, dark facial stripe and variable green, brown or grey colouration.

Explain the stop-work process, exclusion areas, hygiene controls, approved handling arrangements and the location of the wildlife holding and first-aid equipment.

Nominate a fauna spotter catcher or ecologist with authority to stop work. Include contact details for the project manager, wildlife carer, veterinarian and relevant wildlife authority.

  • Prohibit unauthorised handling, collection, transport or release of frogs, tadpoles and eggs.
  • Use dedicated clean footwear and equipment in wetland areas, or disinfect equipment between waterbodies.
  • Keep an incident form, species identification guide, clean containers, gloves and approved amphibian hygiene supplies on site.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Clear in stages under supervision

Use a slow, staged approach whenever work is near Alpine Tree Frog habitat. The fauna spotter catcher must have clear authority to stop work and must act conservatively when a frog, egg mass or breeding place is found.

Clear from the least disturbed edge towards retained habitat, using small work areas and short stages. Keep the fauna spotter catcher ahead of machinery and maintain a clear view of ground debris, wetland margins and shallow water.

Remove materials gradually. Check under logs, rocks, debris and dense ground vegetation before they are moved. Do not push frogs towards water, roads, trenches or active machinery.

Stop work during heavy rain, rapidly changing water levels or conditions that prevent a safe search, unless the approved ecologist confirms that work can continue.

  • Keep machinery outside marked exclusion areas.
  • Maintain sediment, runoff, dust, noise and lighting controls throughout the work.
  • Never place spoil, slash or felled material in a wetland, drainage line, bog, fen or streamside pool.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Stop work and manage breeding places

Stop work immediately if an Alpine Tree Frog, egg cluster, tadpole concentration or active breeding place is found in the work area. Protect the location and notify the project ecologist and site supervisor.

The ecologist must determine whether the breeding place can be retained, whether the work can be redesigned, and whether the approval or species management program requires notification or a specific action.

Do not drain, pump, fill, drive through or disturb an active breeding place. Eggs and tadpoles must not be moved unless the action is authorised and directed by an appropriately qualified person.

  • Extend the exclusion area if frogs are found outside the mapped boundary.
  • Record the location, life stage, number or estimate, habitat condition, photographs and action taken.
  • Resume work only after the fauna spotter catcher and project ecologist release the area in accordance with approval conditions.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Handle and relocate animals safely

Only authorised and trained personnel may handle Alpine Tree Frogs. Avoid handling wherever possible, as amphibian skin is highly sensitive and disease can be transferred between sites.

If handling is approved, use clean, powder-free gloves or the approved amphibian handling method. Keep each animal in a clean, secure, cool and shaded container with suitable damp material, and minimise holding time.

Release a healthy animal only at the approved nearby habitat identified by the ecologist. Do not move animals across roads, catchments or unsuitable habitat, and do not release them into an unapproved wetland.

  • Do not use tap water, chemicals, sunscreen, insect repellent or contaminated equipment in contact with frogs or tadpoles.
  • Do not mix animals from different sites in one container.
  • Record the capture point, release point, time, condition, handler and approval reference.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Respond to injured or diseased animals

Stop work around an injured frog and contact the nominated wildlife carer, veterinarian or wildlife authority. Keep the animal shaded, cool and secure while awaiting instructions.

Do not apply medication, feed the frog or wash lesions unless directed by a veterinarian or wildlife authority. Photograph disease signs without unnecessary handling.

Treat dead frogs and unusual mortality as a reportable project incident where required by the approval or management plan. Follow the approved disposal and hygiene procedure.

  • Isolate containers and equipment used for sick, injured or dead frogs.
  • Disinfect equipment before it is used at another waterbody.
  • Record injuries, suspected chytrid signs, mortality, location, likely cause and all notifications.

During habitat disturbance: 5. Maintain daily records

The spotter catcher must keep a daily fauna log covering work areas inspected, weather, survey conditions, animals seen, animals handled, breeding places, stop-work events and construction controls.

Record any departure from the approved method, including plant entry into an exclusion area, runoff incident, unexpected dewatering or damage to wetland vegetation.

Provide records to the project ecologist and project manager at the end of each shift. Escalate serious incidents immediately rather than waiting for the daily report.

  • Use site maps or GPS points for every animal, breeding place and incident.
  • Attach photographs and call recordings where relevant.
  • Keep records in the project environmental management system for the period required by the approval.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Complete post-clearance checks

Complete a formal check before the site is handed back to the construction team or closed for the day. Follow up all animals, breeding places, incidents and rehabilitation commitments through the project reporting system.

Inspect the cleared footprint, machinery paths, trenches, stockpiles and wetland edges after each clearing stage. Search shaded ground, under debris and around residual water before the area is declared clear.

Check that exclusion fencing remains intact and that no spoil, sediment, fuel, concrete washout or altered drainage has entered retained habitat.

Have the fauna spotter catcher sign off the area with the date, time, weather, search conditions and any limitations.

  • Repeat the search after overnight rainfall or if water levels change before further work resumes.
  • Remove fauna hazards such as open trenches, unsecured pipes and uncovered pits, or provide approved escape ramps and covers.
  • Document all no-find results as well as animal detections.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Report outcomes and incidents

Prepare a completion report that summarises survey effort, detections, breeding places, handling, relocation, injuries, mortality, stop-work events, permit conditions and rehabilitation actions.

Notify the relevant regulator, land manager and approval holder within the required timeframe for any threatened species incident, breeding place disturbance, unauthorised harm or disease event.

Update the constraints map and method statement where field conditions differ from the design.

  • Include maps, GPS points, photographs, call records and daily fauna logs.
  • State whether the Alpine Tree Frog was confirmed, not detected under suitable conditions, or not assessable because conditions were unsuitable.
  • Track all corrective actions to closure and nominate a responsible person for each action.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Monitor retained and relocated habitat

Monitor retained wetlands and approved release areas during the next suitable breeding period. Use repeat auditory surveys and tadpole searches so results can be compared with the pre-disturbance baseline.

Inspect water levels, flow paths, wetland vegetation, sediment, weeds, feral animal access and evidence of chytrid or other disease. Check that construction has not changed the wetland hydroperiod.

Where animals were relocated, record survival indicators, subsequent detections and any evidence that the release site is unsuitable.

  • Use the same transects, survey timing and recording method where practical.
  • Schedule monitoring from September to February, with additional checks after major rain or a major disturbance event.
  • Escalate a decline in calling activity, drying of breeding pools or new disease signs to the project ecologist and land manager.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Review and improve the controls

Hold an incident review after any animal handling, mortality, breeding place disturbance, runoff event or failed exclusion control. Include the spotter catcher, supervisor, project ecologist and contractor.

Identify whether the problem arose from survey limits, poor marking, inadequate induction, plant movement, weather, drainage or unclear authority to stop work.

Update the fauna management plan, induction and work method before the next stage proceeds.

  • Record lessons in the environmental management system.
  • Repair damaged fencing and exclusion controls immediately.
  • Use monitoring results to adjust buffers, access routes, wetland protection and rehabilitation actions.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore breeding habitat and water flow

Restore wetland function and the surrounding ground habitat, not just the visible surface. Alpine Tree Frog habitat includes breeding water, bog and fen vegetation, wet grassland, adjoining woodland, heath and ground refuges.

Reinstate natural drainage and shallow wetland flow paths where works have altered them. Retain or recreate still and slow-flowing water suitable for ponds, bogs, fens and streamside pools.

Use local, clean materials and approved designs. Avoid sudden water-level changes, deepening that removes shallow margins, sediment release and permanent barriers between wetlands and adjoining ground habitat.

Do not install replacement ponds or water structures without ecological design, land manager approval and disease hygiene controls.

  • Protect wetland margins from vehicles, stock and feral horses during establishment.
  • Keep fuel, chemicals, fertiliser, concrete washout and treated water away from wetlands.
  • Inspect restored waterbodies after rain, drought and high flows, then correct erosion, leakage or blocked flow paths.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Replace ground refuges and habitat structure

Retain and replace natural ground cover such as flat rocks, fallen logs, leaf litter and other debris in suitable areas beside wetlands and creeks. Place material so it provides shelter without blocking water flow or creating machinery hazards.

Reinstate native grass, sedge, heath, woodland and herb-field structure appropriate to the local alpine or sub-alpine community. Use local provenance where required by the rehabilitation plan.

Do not install nest boxes, bat boxes, artificial nest sites or roost structures as a substitute for Alpine Tree Frog habitat. This species is ground dwelling and does not use those structures as its normal breeding or roosting sites.

  • Keep restored shelter damp and connected to wetland margins where practical.
  • Avoid removing logs, rocks or leaf litter from retained habitat for landscaping or firewood.
  • Protect revegetated areas from trampling until the land manager confirms they are stable.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Control weeds and feral animals

Remove invasive weeds from bogs, fens, wet grassland and wetland margins using methods that avoid trampling and chemical contamination. Stage weed control so that bare soil and sudden loss of cover are minimised.

Control cattle and feral horse access where authorised. Repair fencing, stabilise pugged ground and restore compacted wetland margins.

Use herbicides and pesticides sparingly, in accordance with the label and approval conditions, and keep them away from breeding water.

  • Clean vehicles, boots and tools before entering restored wetlands.
  • Do not spread weed material, contaminated soil or aquatic pathogens between sites.
  • Inspect restoration areas after weed treatment and heavy rain.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Manage lighting, runoff and construction legacy

Keep artificial lighting away from breeding pools and wetland margins. Use the lowest practical intensity, direct lights away from water and retained habitat, and switch lights off when they are not needed.

Remove temporary roads, pads, pipes, fencing and spoil from wetland catchments when they are no longer required. Recompact or decompact ground only in accordance with the rehabilitation design.

Maintain clean runoff and sediment controls until the site is stable and vegetation has re-established.

  • Avoid shining vehicle lights directly across wetlands during night works.
  • Prevent road runoff from entering ponds, bogs, fens and streamside pools.
  • Inspect for altered flow, erosion, sediment deposition and lighting impacts during post-construction monitoring.

Rehabilitation actions: 5. Monitor rehabilitation over the long term

Monitor restored and retained wetlands through suitable breeding seasons. Repeat call surveys, tadpole searches and habitat condition assessments using comparable methods.

Track calling activity, tadpole presence, water permanence, vegetation recovery, shelter availability, weeds, feral animal damage and disease observations.

Continue management until the wetland is stable and the project ecologist and land manager agree that performance targets have been met.

  • Schedule core monitoring from September to February, with extra visits after major rain or severe drought.
  • Compare results with pre-disturbance records and nearby reference habitat where available.
  • Retain monitoring data and revise the rehabilitation plan if breeding habitat dries, becomes polluted, loses flow or remains heavily disturbed.

Sources