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Wood Frogs
Wood Frog Eggs
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WOOD FROG MALES - PISGAH FOREST, LATE JANUARY, 2006.
WOOD FROG MALES RECORDED UNDERWATER, FEBRUARY, 2011
The underwater recording above was recorded with a hydrophone in our tiny backyard garden pond.
When Homer and I visited a slow moving stream in Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina in January, 2006, we were surprised to find Wood Frog eggs by the thousands! As we sat by the stream gazing at these jewels just below the surface, we listened to the male Wood Frogs calling for their mates. Until this time, I had no idea these frogs mated and laid eggs during the winter months. Wood Frogs have an enzyme in their blood that allows them to freeze solid during the cold winter months, then thaw as the temperature rises.
We now visit this stream every year, listen to the courtship calls, find the translucent eggs and watch the tadpoles grow into adults.
We have also observed the courtship, mating, laying of eggs, emergence of tadpoles and little froglets climbing out of our garden pond of Wood Frogs and the Cope's Gray Tree Frog. Click HERE to see photos and read more about this amazing experience.
LINKS
Lang Elliott's Nature Sound Studio
North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Davidson College's Pages on Frogs and Toads of N.C.