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Northern Leopard Frog

Lithobates pipiens

Amphibian · family Ranidae · order Anura

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
35 states[3]
Longest recorded life
9 years[4]

The Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens) is an amphibian in the family Ranidae[5]. It is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act, and NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide[1][2].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Northern Leopard Frog a global rank of G5 (Secure) and a national rank of N5 (Secure)[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data checked on 2026-10-30[1]. State ranks differ from state to state, and the table on this page lists them[8]. NatureServe notes that the population is probably declining[9].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[10] 100,000 to 1,000,000 individuals

Where Northern Leopard Frog lives

NatureServe lists the Northern Leopard Frog as native in 35 US states and territories, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming[3]. NatureServe ranks it as extirpated or possibly extirpated (SX or SH) in Texas[11]. Extirpated means the animal is gone from that place. A state list shows where NatureServe records the frog, not a promise that you will see it there[3].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S3MEWisconsin: native, state rank S4WIVermont: native, state rank S4VTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S3NHWashington: native, state rank S1WAIdaho: native, state rank S2IDMontana: native, state rank S4MTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SNRNDMinnesota: native, state rank S4MNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S4MINew York: native, state rank S5NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S3MAOregon: native, state rank S1ORNevada: native, state rank S2NVWyoming: native, state rank S3WYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S5SDIowa: native, state rank S5IAIndiana: native, state rank S4INOhio: native, state rank SNROHPennsylvania: native, state rank S2PANew Jersey: native, state rank SUNJConnecticut: native, state rank S2CTRhode Island: native, state rank S2RICalifornia: native, state rank S2CAUtah: native, state rank S3UTColorado: native, state rank S3CONebraska: native, state rank S3NEMissouri: native, state rank S2MOKentucky: native, state rank S3KYWest Virginia: native, state rank S3WVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: native, state rank S4MDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: native, state rank S1AZNew Mexico: native, state rank S3NMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SHTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[8].
Show state ranks (36 states)
StateRankMeaning
ArizonaS1Critically Imperiled
CaliforniaS2Imperiled
ColoradoS3Vulnerable
ConnecticutS2Imperiled
IdahoS2Imperiled
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS4Apparently Secure
IowaS5Secure
KentuckyS3Vulnerable
MaineS3Vulnerable
MarylandS4Apparently Secure
MassachusettsS3Vulnerable
MichiganS4Apparently Secure
MinnesotaS4Apparently Secure
MissouriS2Imperiled
MontanaS4Apparently Secure
NebraskaS3Vulnerable
NevadaS2Imperiled
New HampshireS3Vulnerable
New JerseySUUnrankable
New MexicoS3Vulnerable
New YorkS5Secure
North DakotaSNRNot Ranked
OhioSNRNot Ranked
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
OregonS1Critically Imperiled
PennsylvaniaS2Imperiled
Rhode IslandS2Imperiled
South DakotaS5Secure
TexasSHPossibly Extirpated
UtahS3Vulnerable
VermontS4Apparently Secure
WashingtonS1Critically Imperiled
West VirginiaS3Vulnerable
WisconsinS4Apparently Secure
WyomingS3Vulnerable

Habitat

NatureServe records habitat types such as grassland, herbaceous wetland, bog or fen, riparian areas, creeks and shallow water[12]. The frogs usually live in or near permanent water with rooted plants[13]. In summer they often use wet meadows and fields[13]. When resting, they hide under water, in moist crevices or in caves[13]. Eggs are usually laid in shallow, still water with plenty of sun, attached to plants just below the surface[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[12]

Size, diet and lifespan

Adult frogs eat small invertebrates, which are animals without a backbone, found along the water's edge or in nearby meadows and fields[14]. They rarely eat small vertebrates[14][15]. Tadpoles eat algae, plant tissue and bits of organic debris[14]. NatureServe records a typical length of 13 cm (5 in)[16]. Females reach sexual maturity at 730 days[17]. The longest recorded lifespan is 9 years in the wild, and this is a record, not a typical lifespan[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[16] 13 cm (5 in)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 9 years (wild)
Litter or clutch size[18] 4146
Female maturity[17] 730 days (about 2.0 years)
Food habits[15] Invertivore

When to look for it

NatureServe records the adults as animals that hibernate or aestivate, which means they spend part of the year inactive[19]. The timing of egg laying changes with latitude and elevation, and breeding often peaks when the water reaches about 10 C[20]. GBIF observation records are highest in July, August and September, and lowest in January, February and December[21]. These records show when people look and report, not how many frogs there are[21].

January: 76 recordsJanFebruary: 158 recordsFebMarch: 1,101 recordsMarApril: 3,656 recordsAprMay: 4,648 recordsMayJune: 5,153 recordsJunJuly: 7,609 recordsJulAugust: 8,526 recordsAugSeptember: 6,362 recordsSepOctober: 1,792 recordsOctNovember: 363 recordsNovDecember: 124 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[21].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January76
February158
March1,101
April3,656
May4,648
June5,153
July7,609
August8,526
September6,362
October1,792
November363
December124

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Northern Leopard Frog as present in 13 park units[22]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Colorado, New York[23]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Northern Leopard Frog endangered?
It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) globally and N5 (Secure) nationally[2][6].
Where does the Northern Leopard Frog live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 35 US states and territories, including Colorado, Minnesota, New York and Oregon[3]. It is ranked as extirpated or possibly extirpated in Texas[11].
What does the Northern Leopard Frog eat?
Adults eat small invertebrates found near water and in nearby meadows and fields[14]. Tadpoles eat algae, plant tissue and debris[14].
How big is a Northern Leopard Frog?
NatureServe records a typical length of 13 cm (5 in)[16].
How long does a Northern Leopard Frog live?
The longest recorded lifespan is 9 years in the wild[4]. This is a record, not a typical lifespan[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Northern Leopard Frog is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Northern Leopard Frog: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Northern Leopard Frog as native in 35 US states and territories: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 9 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens) is a amphibian in the family Ranidae, order Anura. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe state ranks for Northern Leopard Frog (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe notes on trend for Northern Leopard Frog. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 100,000 to 1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe ranks Northern Leopard Frog as extirpated or possibly extirpated (SX or SH) in: Texas. NatureServe Explorer
  12. Habitat types NatureServe records for Northern Leopard Frog: Grassland/herbaceous, Herbaceous wetland, Scrub-shrub wetland, Bog/fen, Riparian, Medium river, Creek, Spring/spring brook, Moderate gradient, Low gradient, Pool, Shallow water. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for Northern Leopard Frog. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on food for Northern Leopard Frog. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 13 cm (5 in). NatureServe Explorer
  17. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 730 days (about 2.0 years). AnAge
  18. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 4146. AnAge
  19. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Hibernates/aestivates, Circadian. NatureServe Explorer
  20. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Northern Leopard Frog. NatureServe Explorer
  21. GBIF observation records of Northern Leopard Frog in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  22. NPSpecies park lists recording Northern Leopard Frog as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  23. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Northern Leopard Frog: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Colorado, New York. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.