When you think of spring, what sounds do you think of? Probably birds chirping, maybe rumbles of thunder with some spring storms? How about frogs? If you walk by a pond in early spring, there’s a good chance you will hear boreal chorus frogs signing their tune. These frogs are one of the trademark sounds of spring, and they can start calling as early as February.
Boreal chorus frogs live in shallow ponds and wetlands and bodies of water without a current. The tune they create is the sound of the males calling for a mate. After mating, females will lay between 500 and 1,500 eggs, and the tadpoles will emerge in June or July. Boreal chorus frogs are green or tan in color, with three stripes running the length of their bodies. They are small, especially compared to more familiar bullfrogs and green frogs. They are typically only between 0.7 inches and 1.2 inches long. Their legs are so short they can only make short hops when trying to move on land.