Wisconsin Sea Grant: Frog Field Guide

Leopard Frog
(Rana pipiens)

Call: A low, rumbling snore occasionally interspersed with little barks; when seized by a predator, can give a loud scream

Size: 5-11.1 cm in length (2-4.4 inches)

Coloring:
Green, greenish-brown, or brown with rounded, dark spots scattered over the back and sides; the spots may have whitish or yellowish borders; usually a dark spot over each eye and the snout

Habitat:
Found in open habitats like marshes, bogs, lakes, fields and suburban lawns; found throughout the Great Lakes region, but fairly uncommon or rare.

Confusing Species:
The Pickerel Frog has squarish spots arranged in two rows down the back and also has bright yellow or bright orange on the groin area and under the hind legs.

Breeding: Late March - early May

FACT: In the past 50 years, humans have used a lot of chemical pesticides and herbicides to boost agricultural production and for other reasons. One problem, however, is that some of these chemicals stick around for a very long time in the air, soil and water, and they can be harmful to animals like frogs.

Did you know?

The Northern Leopard Frog was probably the most abundant frog species in the Great Lakes region before 1970, but since that time many scientists and naturalists have noticed a sharp decline in its population. Why is that? There are probably several reasons.

First, the Leopard Frog has been commonly used as fishing bait and in biology classroom laboratories for dissection.

Second, the loss of wetlands and other habitat throughout the region has undoubtedly affected the Leopard Frog, as it has many other frog species.

Third, Leopard Frogs, like other frogs, are sensitive to chemical pollutants in the air and water.

copyright 2001 University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute