Wood Frog

I never know what I'll find as I wander the neighborhood. Today's find was a Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus). Most frogs are commonly found near water but the Wood Frogs spend a lot of time on land, the toes on their front legs are not fully webbed. It has been very dry this year and I found this Wood Frog at the edge of our woods.



The Wood Frog is most easily recognized by its "robber mask." This black band stretches past both eyes to the eardrums. They also have dorsolateral ridges, two raised lines running down their back.

Adult Wood Frogs are usually brown, tan, or rust-colored, and are easily camouflaged into the leaf litter.



Wood Frogs are one of the first frogs to breed in early Spring. Their calls, which sound like a "quack," can be heard around water that's near woods.