Natural neighbors: Pacific Tree Frog

May 11, 12:01 PMSeattle Rural Living ExaminerJamie Samans

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Go outside at night this time of year anywhere in the Puget Sound area, and you are likely to hear the distinctive call of the Pacific Tree Frog (Pseudacris regilla).  Despite being named a tree frog, these little guys spend almost all of their time on the ground.  During the day, they hide under leaves, logs, and other cover.  At night is when they really make their living, especially during their breeding season, which runs roughly from March through July here in the Pacific Northwest.

Groups of frogs gather around a water source as darkness falls and begin their calling, sort of a two syllable "ribbet" or "kreek-eeck."  The whole purpose of this excercise is to attract potential mates to the water so that the female frog can lay her eggs.  A group of calling males is known as a "chorus" and the first frog to start singing in an area is known as the "chorus master".  It is apparently possible to mimic the calls or to play back a recording and take over as "chorus master" yourself, enticing other frogs in the area to join in.  When they make these calls their throats swell into a round balloon-like bubble.  On a quiet night you might hear a frog from as far away as a mile.  That's loud!  When an intruder is detected, the frogs change their song from the two syllable "ribbet" to a one syllable call that lets the intruder know they are in the wrong place. 

These frogs are tiny, at their largest they might be 2 inches, but most of the ones I have seen are about the size of a nickel.  They go to great "lengths" to ambush their food -- flicking out their long, sticky tongues and swallowing their prey whole.  They usually eat small spiders, crickets, or other insects.  Some find their calling annoying and even go so far as to fill in ponds to try and get rid of them!  I don't find it unpleasant by any stretch -- it is actually quite soothing.  Next time you are outside at night pay attention, and you will probably hear a Pacific Tree Frog.