Staying up late to count frogs

What kind of work keeps a Graniterock environmental specialist up at night?

If you’re Alex Simons, sometimes you grab a flashlight and count frogs to comply with the law.

Alex recently joined with biologist Dana Bland to survey the federally threatened red-legged frogs at the Santa Cruz Sand Plant as part of Graniterock’s annual permit requirements from the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The frogs are most active at night, making it easier to observe them.  

The survey is designed to get a population census of not only the total individuals but the life forms observed as well.

It is likely a biologist will see adult, juvenile and young of the year observed in and around the ponds.

Through the frog surveys, Alex’s goal is to gain enough hours to be added to the Santa Cruz Sand Plant Habitat Conservation Plan as one of the permitted biologists who can lead the surveys in cases Dana is unavailable.

“In Dana’s absence, I could be able to do pre-construction surveys, move the frogs away from a construction site and be the permitted biologist who could lead the groups,” Alex said. “The ultimate goal is to get the scientific handling permit so I could take over for surveys at our sites should Dana decide to retire.”

To learn more, contact Alex at [email protected].