Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica): Description

Description: Has a dark patch, the "robber's mask," usually brown, extending back from each eye. Dark line of the same color usually runs from the front of the eye to the snout. Background color varies from light tan to dark brown. Two pronounced ridges are present on each side of the back. Adults range from 1.5 to 2.75 inches. Females are larger than males.

Distribution and Status: Common in suitable woodland habitat throughout the state. Found throughout New England, the Great Lake States, and Atlantic Canada. They are not currently a state-listed species in New England although population declines have been noted in Rhode Island.

Terrestrial Habitat and Hibernation: During the non-breeding season, wood frogs live in deciduous or softwood forests, wooded wetlands, bogs, along vegetated ponds, and lakeshores. The terrestrial habitat of wood frogs may be a considerable distance from breeding pools (more than half a mile). Home ranges average around 50 square meters. Wood frogs hibernate under leaf litter or in shallow burrows near the surface of the ground.

Breeding Pool: Pools usually in or near wooded areas. They also breed in grassy ditches, cattail marshes, old gravel pits, or hollows in alder thickets flooded by spring rains. However, if fish are present or if the pools dry early in the season, reproduction may be unsuccessful.

Egg Masses: Eggs laid in large globular masses of, on average, 1,000 eggs per mass. Found either attached to twigs and stems or lying on the bottom if the pool is very shallow. Like all frog eggs, they lack a surrounding gelatinous envelope and therefore have a lumpy appearance. Egg masses are usually spherical at first. As they develop they tend to spread out in a loose, shapeless form. Wood frogs often lay in communal masses, but it is possible to distinguish individual masses if surveyed soon after deposition.

Tadpoles: Mottled olive brown sometimes appearing gold-flecked; belly with pinkish bronze iridescence; eyes just above the sides, not bulging out as in spring peepers and gray tree frogs.

Voice: A hoarse, clucking sound reminiscent of a duck. They are explosive breeders and may only call for one week. Wood frog call audio (coming soon).

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