Leopard frog, spring peeper, American toad, western chorus frog – just to name a few. Minnesota has 14 species of frogs and toads, many of which are found here in Roseville. Each species makes a unique sound.
Frogs and toads are highly sensitive to changes in habitat and water quality. The presence of a variety of species of frogs and toads indicates a healthy ecosystem. Tracking the number and species is a time-consuming task, so the Roseville Parks and Recreation staff was excited when 28 people showed up to learn how to track and count frogs and toads.
Stantec Ecologist Larissa Mottl spent an evening teaching volunteers how to listen for frogs and toads, how to identify the species by the sounds they make and how to categorize the number of calls. One means a couple of calls, two means several calls and three means a full chorus of calls. Volunteers will visit 14 locations throughout Roseville, going out during the breeding season when frogs and toads congregate in wetlands and water bodies to breed and lay eggs.
During peak breeding seasons, some frog and toad calls can be heard throughout the day and much of the night. Some species breed in early spring, some in late spring and some in early summer, so the chorus of calls a person hears in a wetland varies over time.
Through past frog and toad call surveys, Roseville volunteers have recognized several species, including the boreal chorus frog, spring peeper, gray tree frog, wood frog and American toad. Tracking the different kinds of frogs and toads is invaluable in helping the city guide long-term management practices to restore and maintain natural areas.
Listen to frog and toad sounds at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s website at www.pca.state.mn.us/living-green/frogs-minnesota.