It's not a pretty sight, but it's a reality in many wetlands across the United States these days.  Deformed frogs, struggling to survive and scientists struggling to find out why.

Today though, scientists from the University of Colorado-Boulder announced they've found the culprit--runoff from farms and ranches.  According to the latest research, which was just published in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences, nitrogen and phosphates create a parasitic infection cycle that leaves northern leopard frogs deformed in unimaginable ways.

It's not easy being green, but imagine how difficult it is being green and deformed.  Not surprisingly, deformed populations of northern leopard frogs are in decline.  While deformed frogs have been reported in many parts of the United States, the heart of the phenomenon is in the upper Midwest of Minnesota and Wisconsin.

As alarming as these deformations area, even more alarming is the link to our own health.  According to an article in the Rocky Mountain News, runoff from farms and ranches can increase the risk of malaria and West Nile virus.  The northern leopard frog is considered an indicator of clean water throughout its range, so deformations are a disturbing sign of declining water quality.

The good news is that Center for Native Ecosystems is working to save the northern leopard frog, especially in the western United States, from continued declines.  Last year, Center for Native Ecosystems spearheaded an effort to protect the northern leopard frog in the western United States under the Endangered Species Act.  Here in the west, the frog faces an onslaught of threats, including habitat loss, overgrazing, oil and gas drilling, pesticide use, climate change, and yes, even deformations.

How bad are things for the northern leopard frog in the western United States?  Well, throughout its 18 state range, it's declined on average by more than 65%.  The frog has disappeared entirely from three states, including California, Oregon, and Texas.  Even here in Colorado, the frog has declined by as much as 85%.  Although considered "widespread," the northern leopard frog is becoming scarce throughout its entire western range.

Our future doesn't just need healthy northern leopard frogs, it needs clean water, too.  With the science continuing to mount in support of protecting the northern leopard frog under the Endangered Species Act, hopefully it won't be too late for our future.