Wood Frogs!

The wood frogs are calling in Duluth - Yesterday, I heard wood frogs calling in small wetlands in and near Hartley Park.  Most of the wood frog activity was in ponds that are shallow and have solar exposure.  These ponds are likely warmer than deeper or completely shaded wetlands. 

I even found wood frog eggs in two ponds.  Wood frogs are probably still in the midst of breeding as many of the ponds I visited yesterday did not have eggs. 

Wood frogs are explosive communal breeders, meaning that breeding occurs over just a few days and all (or most) of the eggs are laid in one location in a pond.  Eggs are generally attached to submerged vegetation near the water surface in open areas of a pond that are fairly shallow (1-2 feet).  When first laid, wood frog eggs are very easy to spot.

30+ wood frog egg masses (each female lays one egg mass consisting of hundreds of eggs)

Up close, it is easy to see the embryos through the clear protective gelatin-like layers.  This allows us to track development before the eggs hatch, which occurs in 4 to 28 days depending on conditions.

recently laid wood frog eggs masses

  ***Note: If you find wood frog eggs, please leave them undisturbed in the water.