About to Croak!

[JohnBoy]

Unlike many states to the south, Minnesota has had an extremely wet summer. Along with the wet conditions we have been inundated with a great many frogs. I can barely mow the lawn anymore - with frogs hopping about like popcorn!

This fellow, a Northern Leopard Frog, likes to hang out on the edge of our front sidewalk. Along with the Leopard Frogs we have several species of tree frogs and toads. One of the favorite evening gathering places for all these guys is under our yard light as it attracts an abundance of insects - the all-you-can-eat bug buffet!

 

[callshot]

Have you been racing them or having jumping contests yet :?:

 

[JohnBoy]

I'm not sure if anyone races frogs up here - I see minnow races and turkle (turtle) races. These frogs CAN jump but I don't want to encourage them as they apparently enjoy jumping up against the bare legs of most humans. I've gotten used to it but visitors tend to scream - which makes the frogs even more jumpy!

 

[Mike Armstrong]

I used to find these guys in the tall grass in late summer in upstate NYS after a summer shower or a heavy dew. Watched them hunting grasshoppers; a real laugh! They are relentless hunters and would never seem to lose track of their prey even in the tall grass. Would pursue for many long very fast hops, both of prey and frog, until they got their hopper! The cheetah of the frog world!

Neat pic; thanks!

 

[deserttrans]

They like to lay under the ole bug zapper too. A real buffet for them.

 

[Ferdinand]

I have some old Fred Arbogast lures that look a lot like that specimen - used to be a standard pattern for jitterbugs and hula-poppers. Nice to see the real thing.

 

[BlazinBob]

Another Minnesota poster here....during the night last week when we had the overnight frost (Thursday maybe) I had a couple of small toads get frozen solid on my patio table. By the following evening they had thawed out in the sun and taken off!!! Life is different when you're cold-blooded!

 

[rsi705]

Okay, help a guy out...what is "frost"? Is that the stuff on the beer mug?

Kidding, grew up up that way but it has been so hot this summer that I cannot even imagine cool nights - sounds like heaven!

 

[ranger1]

Okay, help a guy out...what is "frost"? Is that the stuff on the beer mug?

That and the end of the mosquito season.....hopefully! :)

BTW, very nice pictures JohnBoy.