On the Northern Beaches, hidden among the eucalypt forests, woodlands, and heathlands of the Hawkesbury Sandstone, lives a creature that most people will never see - the Giant Burrowing Frog. 

Where do they live?

True to its name, this frog spends more than 95% of its life underground, tucked away in burrows beneath the soil or nestling into leaf litter. 

They only emerge from their burrows for breeding or during heavy rain. During heavy downpours the frogs emerge from their burrows and make their way to breeding sites, sometimes traveling hundreds of meters. They don’t stay long - just three to ten days of activity before retreating once more.

During breeding the frogs prefer soaks or pools in first- or second-order streams, seepage lines in hanging swamps, or any small pool formed by collected water. Males call from open spaces, beneath vegetation, under rocks, or even from within burrows in creek banks. They fiercely defend their chosen territory. 

When conditions are right, breeding may occur twice a year, in spring and autumn. Eggs are laid in foam nests tucked near burrow openings or beneath vegetation. After rain, burrows may flood, releasing tadpoles into creeks or shallow pools where they complete their metamorphosis.

These frogs require clear, unpolluted watercourses and thrive only in the naturally acidic conditions of undisturbed sandstone environments. 

The Giant Burrowing Frog is listed as vulnerable to extinction under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and the Commonwealth Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

What do they eat?

The Giant Burrowing Frog isn’t fussy about food. Adults snap up ants, beetles, cockroaches, spiders, centipedes, and even scorpions, hunting close to the ground or near water. Their tadpoles, meanwhile, feed on plant matter and detritus in creeks and pools. 

What do they look like?

The Giant Burrowing Frog is a chunky, slow-moving amphibian about 10 cm long, with powerful hind legs and burrow-ready feet. Males stand out with strong forearms tipped by black spines, while females are less muscular. Its skin is rough and warty with dark brown, grey or black colouring on their back and yellow spots down their sides. The belly is white or blueish-white, and the throat is grey with pale pink and their silvery eyes with vertical pupils give them a striking look. 

In breeding season, males call with a deep, owl-like “oop oop oop”.

How can you support the species?

• Keep your dog on a leash: Avoid disturbing wildlife by keeping your dog on leash outside of off-leash areas.
• Stay on the path: When cycling or walking through natural areas, stick to the path so you don't disturb any habitat.
• Keep pets indoors, especially at night: Dog and cat attacks are one of the largest threats to native wildlife. 
• Assess before gardening: Check an area for evidence of burrows before undertaking gardening. 
• Report injured wildlife to WIRES (1300 094 737) or Sydney Wildlife (9413 4300). 
• Manage household chemicals: Use minimal amounts of fertilisers and pesticides on lawns and wash cars with water or eco-friendly soap to prevent chemicals from washing into our local waterways.
• Join a local Bushcare group: Participate in supervised bush regeneration to help restore habitat.
• Join local clean ups: Participate in local clean up groups such as the Northern Beaches Clean Up Crew.
• Report foxes: Report any fox activity to FoxScan.
• Create a backyard sanctuary: Turn your garden into a safe refuge for local wildlife by planting native shrubs and ground covers that offer food and shelter. For practical tips, see Backyard Habitat.

Fun facts

• The Giant Burrowing Frog grows slowly and can live for a decade or more.
• They have shovel-like feet to help them dig their burrows.
• The call of the males sounds so much like an owl that they’ve got the nickname "eastern owl frog".