Wood frog - Rana sylvatica

Size: 2 - 2 3/4 inches (5.1-7 cm)

Voice: Often the first species heard calling in the spring. Their short chuckle is a harsh racket, racket, racket. A chorus sounds like the feeding call of the mallard. Males have paired vocal sacs.

Identification: A dark, masklike patch extends backwards from the eyes. Skin coloration is typically brown, but can range from shades of reddish-brown to almost black. Prominent dorsolateral folds.

Life stages: Large, dense globular masses of up to 3,000 eggs are attached to aquatic vegetation. Egg masses are often laid communally and hatch within three weeks. Tadpoles transform within six to nine weeks and reach maturity in two to four years.

Breeding habitat: Bogs, temporary forested wetlands, margins of forested lakes, and backwaters of streams.

Summer habitat: Occupies woodland and forest habitat, sometimes traveling a considerable distance from water.

Winter habitat: Terrestrial, tolerating partial freezing of body fluids. Overwinters in leaf litter of the forest floor.

Photo: ©B. Oldfield.