Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus)
The Wood Frog is a fascinating amphibian, notable for being one of the first frog species to emerge in spring. This remarkable species possesses freeze-tolerance capabilities and shows a preference for vernal pools during breeding season. Their early emergence and unique adaptations make them an intriguing subject for wildlife observation.
| 🇫🇷 | Grenouille des bois |
| 🇩🇪 | Waldfrosch |
| 🇲🇽 | Rana de bosque |
| Taxonomy | |
| Order | Anura |
| Family | Ranidae |
How to Identify
The dark eye mask is a distinctive characteristic of this species. This mask, resembling a robber's mask, extends from the eye to the base of the front leg and makes the Wood Frog easily distinguishable from other local frog species.
Tap image to enlarge
Tap image to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge.
Characteristics
| Length | 5-8cm |
| Weight | 10-15g |
Videos
Videos are hosted on YouTube. Click on a thumbnail to watch it.
Where and When to Spot
My first observation of this species has been a few years back in Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies early spring in a pool which still was partially frozen. I returned to the same place on several occasions around the same month. In April 2022, I finally encountered them again and recorded a video.
Observation Records by Park and Season
| Location | Spring | Summer | Autumn | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parc Michel-Chartrand | x | - | - | - |
| Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies | x | - | - | - |
"x" indicates the species was observed, while "-" indicates no observation. Lack of observation doesn't necessarily imply that the species is absent. Data is derived from our park visit journals.