Thousands Of Singing Pacific Treefrogs Are A Welcome Sound Of Normalcy Here In Oregon
By Catherine Armstrong|Published April 27, 2020
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Catherine Armstrong
Author
Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.
Every year as warm weather returns to Oregon, the distinct chorus of the male Pacific Treefrog is a herald of spring. In a time when daily life is anything but ordinary, these tiny frogs are a welcome sight and sound.
The Pacific Treefrog is the most common frog in Oregon, and the sweet sounds of their choruses beckon in spring every year.
These tiny frogs are just two inches long. They have a distinctive black stripe on each side of their heads, and can be either green or a brownish-grey color.
During mating season in the spring, males try to lure females with their distinctive ribbit. In the evening, you might hear hundreds of these little guys singing, in search of love.
Breeding season lasts from February through July, and females lay up to 750 eggs during that time. The eggs hatch as early as three weeks later, and little tadpoles fill the lakes and ponds around the Beaver State.
Keep the frogs in your yard healthy and happy by limiting the amount of pesticide and herbicide you use - it's easily absorbed into the frogs' permeable skin, and is deadly.
While some people complain about the noise, these adorable, tiny frogs are a welcome sign of spring!