This is a common frog, one that keeps me on my toes when mowing the lawn. Unlike the stereotypical water-loving frogs, the Pickerel spends a good deal of time OUT of the water and in the meadow.
These are among the first True Frogs to emerge in the late winter/early spring, although we don't hear their "snoring" mating call, often performed under water, until around April.
Northern Leopard Frog(Rana pipiens)
Pickerel on ice - taken in late March.
Note the parallel, rectangular spots running down the back.
The orange under the legs is helpful in distinguishing this from the similar, yet rarer, Northern Leopard Frog. (The frog on the right is not hurt, they become immobile when held on their back.)
Pickerels are highly distasteful to many animals. If you turn one over, you will see a fiery, or deep orange color under the legs, a coloration that is generally a warning sign in nature, suggesting unpalatability.
The eggs of the Pickerel are layed in an oblong mass with thousands of embryos. By late summer of that same season, the froglets are out and about everywhere! They overwinter underwater.
This is a pickerel tadpole found amongst others in early June. The tads were in a big puddle downhill from a grassy field. Note the clear "fins" on the sharply pointed tail - this, and the habitat, are clues to identifying the species
Many people mistake the Pickerel Frog for the Leopard Frog. They are similar in many ways, although they are pretty different- looking in the two photos on this page.
While they can be found in similar habitats, the Northern Leopard Frog is far more uncommon that the Pickerel. Proof of this frog's comfort in grassy meadows lies in its difficulty to catch. They are master evaders!
The eggs of the Leopard Frog are layed in long masses, containing thousands of embryos. They breed in lakes, ponds, and temporary bodies of water.
These frogs are out and about from late winter/early spring to fall. Like most True Frogs, they overwinter under water to prevent freezing.
Female Leopard Frog - note the rounder, less organized spots than those on the Pickerel Frog. Pictured is a female who had recently layed her eggs. As with the Bull and Green Frogs, sex can be determined by the size of the tympanum (ear). Smaller or same size as eye diameter would indicate female. Ear larger than eye diameter means male.
