Wildlife Wednesday – The Wood Frog

It’s a hopping good time for today’s Wildlife Wednesday from your Ohio Division of Wildlife as we spotlight an amphibian that you may start hearing around this time of year – the wood frog.
This frog’s wide range extends north to the tundra of Labrador and Alaska, farther north than any other North American amphibian. This frog is brown, tan, or pinkish with a dark mask across its eyes. It is our most terrestrial frog, preferring moist woodlands to the ponds more commonly frequented by other frogs. It even hibernates on land beneath leaf litter where it survives partial freezing of its tissue.
During the brief breeding period in late February to early April, often before the ice has completely melted, woodland ponds may be suddenly full of courting Wood Frogs. Their call is a series of five or six explosive clucking notes. A week or so after breeding, the ponds are completely abandoned by these solitary masked mavericks.
And make sure you check out a recent video about wood frogs from Naturalist Aaron at Shawnee State Parkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4O2GLQBTFrE. They are also hosting a FREE amphibian program on March 12 at 7 pm at Shawnee State Park Lodge.
For more info on other amphibians, download the Amphibians of Ohio Field Guide at https://ohiodnr.gov/…/Amphibians%20of%20Ohio%20Field…. #WildOhio Ohio Department of Education Your Wild Ohio – Explorer
Information courtesy of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources