Amphibian survey tabular data for Fort Vancouver National Historical Reserve, 2002-2003.

Our primary goal for FOVA was to search for the presence of expected species: Ensatina, western red-backed salamander, northern red-legged frog, Oregon spotted frog, American bullfrog, Pacific treefrog, and western toad. At the request of the FOVA Superintendent, the inventory was expanded to include the Reserve and three additional species expected to occur within the Reserve: northwestern salamander, long-toed salamander, and rough-skinned newt. Reptiles were not targeted during this project but were documented when encountered.

Thirteen surveys were conducted within the Reserve. Three of 10 species (Ensatina, Pacific treefrog, and long-toed salamander) expected to inhabit the Reserve were observed but no amphibians or reptiles were found within FOVA. The common garter snake was also documented in the Reserve. Species absence is extremely difficult to determine; some species recorded historically or occasionally but not detected during our survey efforts may still be present in the park. Additional surveys of targeted habitats and species should be conducted.

This project at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (FOVA) and the greater Vancouver National Historic Reserve was part of a larger effort to document species presence at five North Coast and Cascades Network parks: Mount Rainier National Park, Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve (EBLA), Lewis and Clark National Historical Site (LEWI, formerly FOCL), FOVA, and San Juan Island National Historical Park (SAJH). Four parks (EBLA, FOCL, FOVA, and SAJH) had incomplete amphibian lists based on limited or undocumented data. Our primary goal was to meet the National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring program goal to better assess the status of amphibian species listed as “expected” in the parks and to verify the occurrence of 90% of these species. Species occurrences were documented or verified by written records and photographs; no specimens were collected in this inventory. Prior to this inventory, FOVA had no verified list of amphibians and reptiles occurring in the park. Additional searches of museum specimens and state records have not been completed.