Columbia Spotted Frogs

 April 19th Columbia Spotted Frogs  Photo by Larry Halverson

Columbia Spotted Frogs breed early in the spring - often before the pond ice has disappeared. The breeding period is quite short and last 2 weeks at the most. The males station themselves along the shore and call with their heads just out of water. During mating the male clasps the female in pectorial amplexus. The females lay eggs in communal masses at the surface of the water, either freely floating or loosely tangled around emergent vegetation. The tadpoles usually transform in late summer and reach maturity in 4-5 years.

The Columbia Wetland Stewardship Partners are interested in frog sightings in the Columbia Valley so we invite you to participate in the BC Frogwatch Program. You can also take part Herpwatch, a survey for amphibians and reptiles in Banff, Kootenay, and Yoho National Parks.

 

To listen to their call click HERE It sounds like a quiet helicopter