Hello, fellow lovers of all things green,
To my delight, new frog friends have landed in my pond—Wood Frogs! Their mating sounds sing for spring, inspiring me to revisit Frog Watch USA. Tedor Whitman, Executive Director of the Cora Hartshorn Arboretum (CHA), led a training hosted by Greenwood Gardens, also in Short Hills, NJ. I loved his sentiment, “They’ve been around since before the dinosaurs, and few people get angry at frogs.”
Wood Frog in Skunk Cabbage. Photo by Blaine Rothauser.
Tedor joked frogs and toads might not be as famous as the “charismatic mega vertebrates” like the panda or humpback whale. However, there’s been a considerable decline in amphibians in the last twenty-five years due to habitat loss, pollutants, changes in the climate, parasites, and disease, causing great concern. Frogs and toads are essential for pest control and as food sources for other animals. They are extremely sensitive to environmental change, and changes in their populations can be early indicators of ecological problems.
About Frog Watch USA
The Frog & Toad Field Guide provided during training lists sixteen species, about ten of which live in our neck of the woods, from what I could tell, though I’m not an expert. And you don’t need to be to become a Frog Watch USA volunteer. It only takes a few hours of training to learn how to choose a wetland site, listen for three minutes at least four times a year, and record your findings. The valuable data will help save our wetlands, critical to flood and erosion control and natural water filtration. Not to mention the threatened species that rely on wetlands, such as our essential and adorable frogs and toads.
I dusted off the CD provided to help memorize their mating songs now that I have a new species in my pond. I’ve had American Bullfrogs, a feast for a Red Shouldered Hawk, and adore the annual chorus of the Northern Spring Peepers soon to start. Unbeknownst to me, my pond serves as a vernal pool.
Photo By: Blaine Rothauser
Wood Frogs Rely on Vernal Pools
Wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) are vernal pool obligate species, as are spotted salamanders and fairy shrimp. Meaning they rely on temporary wetlands for breeding and completing their lifecycle. Although my pond is not temporary, it always has water, and the dam overflows during heavy rain or snow melt to feed the beefy Jacksonburg Creek along the edge of the property.
Photo By: Blaine Rothauser
When Wood Frogs emerge from hibernation after the first warm rainy night, they migrate from the woods to a vernal pond to mate. Frogs can smell water, which guides them. Wood Frogs travel a few hundred feet to a quarter of a mile to find their mating spot. I am delighted they found their way to our pond and thrilled that my friend Blaine Rothauser shared these stunning photos for all of us to enjoy.
What are Vernal Pools?
Vernal pools, also called vernal ponds or ephemeral pools, are temporary pools of water in depressions that dry up seasonally, typically in the heat of the summer. Not all vernal pools dry out yearly, though they all do periodically. To protect our vernal ponds, do not use chemicals or fertilizers near them, maintain the canopy of trees above them, and keep the fallen debris intact as they harbor eggs.
Another stunning photo by Blaine Rothauser
Sadly, Wetlands Laws don’t always protect vernal ponds because they are typically less than an acre in size. Builders often fill them in. But please don’t. They are essential harbors of life and are classified as unique wetlands customarily devoid of fish, though certain fish have adapted to them in tropical areas. In these parts, vernal pools don’t shelter fish, so our essential amphibians and insects can readily reproduce out of reach from predatory fish. Mother Nature knows what she’s doing.
There’s no mistaking the first signs of spring, and hearing Northern Spring Peepers and Wood Frogs calling for a mate adds to the delight. Take time to be in the presence of where you are, listening to the sounds of nature, enjoying the beauty, serenity, and comfort, and relishing the unity and oneness of the natural world we are all part of.
Garden dilemmas? AskMaryStone@gmail.com (and on your favorite Podcast App).
Enjoy more of the story in the Garden Dilemmas Podcast (13 soothing minutes):
Do you know the difference between Frogs and Toads?
- Frogs have teeth; toads don’t.
- Frogs live in or near water; toads live on land.
- Frogs have smooth, slimy skin; toads have warty, dry skin.
Related Posts and Helpful Links:
Attracting Toads to Your Garden
About Blaine Rothauser, Natural History Photographer
NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife PDF about Wood Frogs and Online Field Guide for Reptiles and Amphibians
To learn more about volunteering, visit Frogwatch.org. It’s simple and fun, and you can make a difference.
