Let me set the scene for you. It was a sunny, warm (about 60 degrees), breezy day in mid March. My herpetology class had taken a field trip to Rush Run in Somerville, OH. At around 3:30 pm we pulled over on the side of the road to to nearly deafening sound of hundreds or possibly thousands of spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer). The chorus was coming from a shallow marshland chock full of tall grasses. A short distance away (probably about 100 yards) there was a deeper, more compact pond where we heard (miraculously over the din of the spring peepers) the call of the Northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens). The area we were in was perfect habitat for the Northern leopard frog, which prefers open fields to heavily forested areas. Their breeding season is mid-March or early April so these calling Leopard frogs were definitely searching for some lovely lady Northern leopard frogs. Never missing the chance to give us a quiz, Dr. Boone quickly handed out the note cards, much to our chagrin. After that was over, we waded out into the pond with the added incentive of an extra credit point should we successfully catch the elusive R. pipiens (Dr. Boone must have known something we didn't.) Despite trying for at least a half hour, wading in to waist deep water, seeing 3 or 4 Northern leopard frogs, and even trying to impersonate calling spring peepers, we failed to apprehend our target. Although disappointing, this experience gave me a greater appreciation for the speed and stealth of the Northern leopard frog.
(Posted by:Julia Steinbach
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