A
bad photograph, I know, but this was the evening's documentation of our
other common "vernal pool amphibian", the Wood Frog. Like the Spotted
Salamander, this species will arrive at ponds in early Spring for some
quick breeding. Their evolutionary 'hope' is for the eggs to hatch and
develop into terrestrial adults before the vernal pool dries out in
late summer. These species will also use permanent ponds if they have
no predators like fish or Bull Frogs. Their duck-like cackles will be
heard on a few warm evenings in early Spring.
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