What's That Sound?

On an evening walk last night, I was struck by the overwhelming chorus of frogs echoing across a local pond. Initially, it seemed like all the frogs were Spring Peepers, who are known for their distinctly loud single note “peep” sound, but as I paused and listened, there was much more going on. Hidden among the forceful “peeps” were all sorts of other chirps and whirls from what I can only imagine were other species of frogs trying to be heard. This all reminded me how important springtime is for our fragile amphibians, and got me thinking about all the wonderful amphibians that are often forgotten about.
 
Each Spring, there is usually one “big night” when hundreds of thousands of salamanders and frogs alike emerge from their winter hiding places and begin to make their way to the local ponds and vernal pools. This migration typically occurs on the first warm, rainy night of Spring. In some parts of the state, roads will be closed off to allow the safe crossing of local species, and in other areas, communities have supported the construction of underground highways and tunnel systems to promote a successful journey! Although we have already had quite a few rainy, warm nights this Spring, there are still many things happening with local frogs and salamanders that we will be able to observe well into the Summer months.

The reason for this great migration is that frogs and amphibians mate in early spring and they do this around bodies of water where they will lay their eggs. When I passed by my local pond and heard the amplified frog calls, I was really walking into a singing competition, each male trying to outdo one another for the attention of a female counterpart.
 
At the very same pond where I was greeted with what felt like thousands of frog calls, I had a much different, quieter experience while passing through in the middle of the day. Much to my surprise while looking over the edge of the water, speedy tadpoles of multiple sizes were already darting between the reeds. Not only were there tadpoles, but there were also clusters of eggs! It was amazing to me that all at once there could be three different stages of the frog lifecycle present at one pond. The adults looking to mate, the eggs clinging to sturdy branches, and the tadpoles competing for resources!
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Take a Closer Look...

​Salamanders are not as noticeable as frogs, but they are still around and plentiful! If you find yourself near a body of water in the evening this Spring, be sure to bring a torch with you! Just a couple of weeks ago, I stumbled upon a vernal pool that had large, yellow-spotted salamanders swimming around the detritus at the bottom.

 
​Nearby my local pond, in a slightly wooded area still covered with leaves from the previous fall, I decided to flip over a few damp logs to see what other amphibians were lurking around. I was excited that two salamanders, one blue-spotted and one red-backed, were resting underneath!

The recent weather has been ideal for searching for frogs and salamanders. If you have access to a small body of water, chances are you’ll be able to find some kind of amphibian life nearby. Damp days are great for searching, amphibians need at least some moisture in the ground or air in order to survive. This is why it must be raining on the “big night.” Underneath logs is a great place to find salamanders. If you are adventurous enough to start flipping over logs, be sure to put them back gently as to not smoosh anything underneath. Another key thing to remember about amphibians is that their skin is very permeable. This means that liquids, gases, and contaminants can pass through it very easily. It is important that you do not pick up or hold any of the amphibians that you find. You may risk getting the oils from your skin or lotion that you used earlier in the day inside of their bodies, which could be potentially deadly.

​We are often bombarded by Spring Peepers and it seems that the only salamanders that are crawling around are the Red-Backed Salamanders, but below are some other local amphibians you can keep an eye out for this Spring!