We love our spring chorus of frogs – it’s one of the best parts of living in a place that’s still fairly wild. Spring is officially announced by a jubilant symphony of birds in the morning and mating calls of some of our most familiar amphibians in the evening, especially spring peepers. So how do we make sure our landscapes will continue to have healthy, happy amphibians for generations to come? Three crucial steps – learn more about them, design and maintain landscapes that protect their habitat (ponds, marshes, slow shallow streams, vernal pools) and share the experience in a fun way with children and adults.
So let’s have a little Amphibian Quiz – Can you name the 15 Amphibians (salamanders, toads, newts and frogs) breeding in April in VT? I can’t ID them all yet, but Mary Holland sure can – she lists them in her book Naturally Curious, which chronicles New England flora and fauna month-by-month. (I’ll give you the answer at the bottom of the post).
Here are three of the most common frogs and toads that you’ll hear this spring, a few fun facts about each and some ID tips including a recording of their call:
American Toad singing
- There is a large bean-shaped gland behind their eyes that contains a neurotoxin that deters predators, but eastern hognose snakes can still eat them.
- American toads dig themselves backwards into the soil in the fall and spend the winter hibernating 12″ below the surface
- They are primarily nocturnal and solitary but during their peak breeding season in late April they appear during the day
- They lay their eggs in two gelatinous strings of black pearls
- American Toad call
Spring Peeper
- these are small frogs about 1″ long with an “X” on their backs
- spring peepers can freeze as solid as a rock for several months during hibernation and then, on a warm day, thaw out in a few hours and resume a normal, active life.
- Female can lay up to 800 eggs, either singly or in small groups, on plants within the male’s territory. The frogs remain joined (a position known as “amplexus”) for up to four hours. After egg-laying and fertilization is completed, the female peeper returns to the woods; the male remains at the pond and resumes singing.
- Spring Peeper call
wood frog
- Has amazing camouflage that helps them blend in on the forest floor. They have a black marking over the eyes that looks like a robber’s mask.
- During winter, they take shelter in leaf litter and can freeze solid like Peepers. They stop breathing and their hearts cease to beat. They produce a special antifreeze substance that prevents ice from freezing within their cells.
- eggs are laid in clumps (up to 2,000) in vernal pools. Once hatched they can recognize their own family – sibling tadpoles seek each other out and group together.
- Wood Frog Male call sounds like a “quack”
Jefferson salamander
Of course there are also salamanders and turtles that use a similar habitat and so keep an eye out for those as well. Some towns even have crossing brigades to help these species safely cross busy roads during their peak breeding days, especially for the rare Jefferson Salamander. Eastern box turtles are often seen crossing roads in April on their way to nesting sites, where at most they will lay 10 eggs per year, but an individual can live up to 100 years in a protected environment.
So how can we protect them? The first step is to protect riparian areas with buffers.
- Designate an area to remain vegetated and not to be disturbed by farm animals or other activities – the size of the buffer depends upon water type (wetland, stream, lake, etc. and its class and width. On our new property in Shelburne we’ve designated an area 50′ on either side of a shallow emergent marsh that drains into the Class 2 wetlands of Shelburne Pond. It’s too small to be formally protected under Vermont Wetland Rules, but it’s obvious to us that it still provides wetland function and provides important wildlife habitat.
- Remove invasive species (purple loosestrife, Phragmites, yellow iris) and plan for long-term control
- If there are farm animals nearby design a fenced animal crossing bridge that doesn’t interfere with the flow or edges of the wet area.
- Replant natives (such as Eupatorium, Spirea alba and Spirea tomentosa, Salix discolor, Asters, Chelone glabra)
- Monitor for the wildlife using the area and tailor the habitat to their specific needs
Ecological Landscape Concept Plan showing 50′ Buffer
Most importantly, have fun exploring! Maintaining a connection with the land reinforces our appreciation of the value of wildlife and intact ecosystems.
Quiz Answer: 15 April Breeding Amphibians – Eastern Newt, Jefferson salamander, Spotted salamander, Blue-Spotted salamander, Northern dusky salamander, Eastern red-backed salamander, Slimy salamander, Northern two-lined salamander, Eastern spadefoot, American toad, Spring peeper, Green frog, Wood frog, Pickerel frog, Northern leopard frog
