Frog Parking Only All Others will be Toad

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Garden Frogs Benefits of Garden Frogs How to attract them Health Care Timing Citizen Science and Frog Watch USA But first . . .

Let’s Build a Frog Chorus!

Imagine a Bull having an argument with a Frog

Over a Jug of Rum! Jug Of Rum Bull Frog

American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) (formerly Rana catesbeiana) © USGS

American Bullfrog Size: 3 – 8 inches. The largest frog in North America. Large specimens have been known to catch and swallow small birds and young snakes… and smaller frogs. Habitat: Ponds, lakes, slow-moving streams with vegetation. (Must be large enough to avoid crowding). Usually found on the bank at water’s edge. When frightened, the bullfrog is likely to flee into nearby vegetation. © Paul Crump, Houston Zoo © Jim Harding, MSU

Let’s hear all you Bullfrogs

Why are they called Peeps?

Why are they called Peeps?

Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) © Jim Harding, MSU

Spring Peeper Size: ¾ -1 ½ inches The spring peeper is one of the most familiar frogs in the East, although it is heard far more often than seen. Habitat: Wooded areas in or near temporarily flooded ponds and swamps © Paul Crump, Houston Zoo

Let’s hear all you Peepers

A Dwarf American listening to?

A Dwarf American listening to? A beautiful flute “trill”

Dwarf American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus charlesmithi) Formerly Bufo americanus © Jim Harding, MSU

Dwarf American Toad Size: 2- 4 inches Toads lay eggs in a long string (e.g., note strands in the photo), while frogs lay them in clumps. Habitat: Mowed grassy yards to forested mountains. Wherever there is abundant moisture and insects. © Joe Greathouse, Oglebay’s Good Zoo

Let’s hear all you Dwarf American Toads

Imagine a long foul ball

Landing on a baby’s toe!

Foul (Fowler) – Toe (Toad)

Fowler’s Toad (Anaxyrus (Bufo) fowleri) Size: 1 ½ - 2 ½” 3 or more tubercles in black spots on the back and sides. Typical white stripe on back. Habitat: Wherever there is abundant moisture and insects. Distinguished from other toad species by the presence of 3 or more warts per dark spot. Coloration is highly variable in both, ranging from reds and browns to gray. © Anita Hayden

Fowler’s Toad Call: Short, nasal, and somewhat whiney cry. “W-a-a-a-h” lasting 1-4 seconds. Buzzy and shrill. Mechanical whir quality. March - May Peaking in April to mid-May nasal “w-a-a-a-h”, cry, lasts 1-4 seconds, buzzy and shrill © Rachel Gauza

Let’s hear all you Fowler’s Toads

Let’s Build a Frog Chorus!

Chorus Members Basses – Bullfrogs (jug of rum rum rum) Sopranos – Spring Peepers (peep, peep) Altos – Dwarf American Toads (trill) Tenors – Fowler’s Toads (waaaah)

Garden Frog (and Toad) Benefits Good appetites for mosquitos, sow bugs, flies, ants, earwigs, grasshoppers, cutworms, pill bugs, and caterpillars Eat up to 10,000 insects per summer

Garden Frog (and Toad) Benefits “Toads and frogs are virtually the only beneficial creatures that eat cucumber beetles.” – Gardens Alive

Garden Frog (and Toad) Benefits Interesting, benign, and well-behaved Great for children to interact Enjoyable songs

Garden Frog (and Toad) Benefits Interesting, benign, and well-behaved Great for children to interact Enjoyable songs

Garden Frog (and Toad) Benefits Environmental indicators Water and land life cycle Absorb moisture and oxygen through their porous skin

Attracting Frogs and Toads to your Garden

Attracting Frogs and Toads to your Garden Water Shelter

Frog and Toad Shelter Hiding places – plants, shrubs, leaf litter, piles of rocks, toad houses (open on the bottom), ponds Hibernating places – leaf litter, ponds, burrows

Frog and Toad Shelter Toad Abodes Open on the bottom In the shade Broken terracotta pot Could be a log laid on a dug out trench

Frog and Toad Water Frogs need ponds all year Toads need ponds to mate; moist places the rest of the time Both absorb moisture through their skin

Pond Requirements They prefer clean, still water with places to hide and call Deep enough not to freeze solid Pollywogs will clean algae and detritus

Frog and Toad Health Pesticides, Herbicides, & Fungicides Shade and cover Fishless ponds

Frog and Toad Health Short grass near pond Garden mesh ≥1½ inch Domestic pets

Frog and Toad Timing “If you build it, they will come.” Don’t introduce frogs and toads Give frogs/toads time to populate naturally

Arkansas Frogs and Toads There are 23 species of frogs and toads in Arkansas. You learned the calls of these four: American Bullfrog Spring Peeper Dwarf American Toad Fowler’s Toad

Arkansas FrogWatch USA Learn the calls of all local species

Arkansas FrogWatch USA Learn the calls of all local species Monitor once a week (or less) from February to August at a pond of your choice.

Arkansas FrogWatch USA Learn the calls of all local species Monitor once a week (or less) from February to August at a pond of your choice. Submit data via the internet to a national database

Arkansas FrogWatch USA Learn the calls of all local species Monitor once a week (or less) from February to August at a pond of your choice. Submit data via the internet to a national database Citizen science at its best!

Next Free Frog Watch Listening Workshops Late Winter of 2015 Arkansas State University Mtn Home North Arkansas College Harrison

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