Western Chorus Frog

Western chorus frogs are native to and found throughout Ohio.  These nocturnal, secretive creatures are one of our smallest frog species, being only three-quarters to an inch and a half long.  Although a member of the treefrog family these frogs are rarely seen on trees.  They flourish in moist open habitats like damp meadows, grasslands, and forest edges – areas that have dense ground vegetation, leaf litter, logs, and rocky crevices that provide hiding places, shelter, and food.   These habitats must also be near shallow, quiet, fish-free vernal pools, marshes, swamps, woodland depressions, ditches, or flooded fields that they use during breeding season. Western chorus frogs are rarely seen except during breeding season.  And breeding season is now! These are among the first frogs to emerge in the spring.  From March through early May, as soon as the snow and ice are melting and spring rains begin this impressive little frog will come out of hibernation and begin congregating by the hundreds in their breeding pools. 

These frogs are often confused with spring peepers because they are similar in size and live in similar habitats.  However, the western chorus frog’s coloring is different from a spring peeper.  Their smooth skin can be brown, gray, or olive green with three dark strips running from the nose across the full length of the body.  In some populations these strips are three rows of spots.  Their call is also very distinctive.  It’s a loud, raspy “cree-ee-ee-ee-eek” that sounds like a fingernail dragging across the teeth of a stiff plastic comb and can be heard up to a mile away.  They call mainly to attract females during breeding season.  Hundreds of these frogs all calling together create a unique chorus.  They can begin calling in early March and in late April, peak breeding season, the frogs sing both day and night.  After breeding season, they go back to their elusive, solitary lives.  But if you’re quiet and lucky while walking in one of their favorite places you might find one hiding under a rock or log.

The western chorus frog might be small, but it is mighty as he plays a huge role in wetland ecosystems.  As predators, they keep their prey populations in check.   They in turn are prey for a wide variety of animals.  But their most important role is as an indicator species.  They are particularly sensitive to environmental changes, and like all amphibians, they are important indicators of the health of their ecosystems.  Declining population numbers, changes in behavior or physical deformities are strong indicators of pollution or toxic substances in the environment.  All ecosystems are being increasingly exposed to artificial light at night.  The western chorus frogs rely on secrecy to keep themselves safe.  Any disruption to their environment, this includes light pollution, causes them to hide.  Light pollution disrupts their nighttime croaking, interfering with their reproduction and leading to reductions in their populations.  These frogs provide a lovely springtime chorus that we would be poorer for if lost.  Let’s help the western chorus frog by turning off all unnecessary lights.