To understand the distribution of the invasive Cuban treefrog (CTF, Osteopilus septentrionalis) along eastern Florida, USA, observational records from the Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System (EDDMapS) app were compared for numbers of observations, relative abundances per observation, estimated sizes, and habitat descriptions among eastern Florida counties from 1996-2021. EDDMapS is a reporting tool for invasive species that citizen scientists can upload observations that are then confirmed by experts. The mean annual number of observations per county from 2013-2021 was more than five times greater than those from 1996-2012. CTFs were primarily associated with yards and residential buildings. Mean lengths were 2.3-3.9 cm with greatest lengths of 7.0 and 8.0 cm recorded in 2019 and 2020. County mean latitude was not correlated with number of records or CTF lengths. Southern counties and northern Duval County had the greatest public engagement. The contributions and documentation of citizen scientists’ observations in coordination with regional experts can be used to inform local management efforts designed to control CTF populations, an invasive parasite-spreading species that negatively impacts local diversity.
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