On today's edition of #RBWinterWildlifeWednesday, let's explore the Northern Green Frog, the largest of the six frog species found at R.B. Winter State Park!
One of Pennsylvania's most abundant frogs, the Northern Green Frog can be found in every county of the state. They are commonly found along the edges of ponds, lakes, swamps, marshes, rivers, and streams of various sizes. At R.B. Winter State Park, you'll often see them lounging by Halfway Lake, either in the grass along the water's edge or in the shallows along the shoreline. Adults can grow up to 4 inches in length and sport a mottled blend of green and brown that aids in their camouflage. During late spring and summer walks along Halfway Lake's shore, you can listen for the distinct mating call of the males, resembling the pluck of a banjo string. While they are active throughout the day, they become more active around sunset, with dozens of males calling out around the lake after dark.
Males use their calls to establish territories that they actively defend from other males and to attract females. Females can lay between 1,000 and 7,000 eggs in the shallow water along the lakeshore, which hatch within 3 to 6 days. Once hatched, tadpoles are completely independent and capable of fending for themselves. In Pennsylvania, they typically remain in their larval tadpole stage over the winter until the following spring, when they begin metamorphosis. During metamorphosis, tadpoles increase in size, grow legs, and absorb their tails. Upon reaching adulthood, their growth rate dramatically slows, and they establish a territory around the lake for themselves. Adults typically live for 5 to 6 years and have been known to live up to 10 years in captivity.
Northern Green Frogs primarily feed on insects, snails, and small fish. Larger adults have a broader diet that includes other frogs, amphibians, reptiles, and any other organisms they can swallow. Predators of these frogs include wading birds like Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets, Snapping Turtles, Northern Watersnakes, various fish species, and mammals such as Raccoons—and yes, even humans! In Pennsylvania, management of Northern Green Frogs falls under the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, which establishes seasons and catch limits similar to other game species.
The next time you're at R.B. Winter, watch for these fascinating creatures and the other wildlife that can be found at R.B. Winter State Park!
Photos by Friends of R. B. Winter State Park Board Member Kyle Fawcett.
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