Click here to listen to spring peepers (.wav file)
Brief Life History Information
(from Locating and Documenting Vernal Pools by Maine Audubon Society)
- Description: By far the smallest of our native frogs. Back is gray, brown or olive with an often imperfect darker cross running across it.
- Size: 0.75-1.25 inches (1.8-3 cm)
- Status and distribution: common throughout the state.
- General habitat: Deciduous, coniferous and mixed woodlands. there may be some preference for brushy; second growth areas.
- Breeding areas: Breed in ponds, pools, marshes and swamps; grassy or muddy, permanent or temporary.
- Eggs: From 800-1,000 eggs are laid singly and attached to aquatic vegetation near bottom of pools. They are very difficult to detect.
- Larvae (tadpoles): Beige, tan or orange-ish dorsum with dark spots; iridescent or bronzy venere.
- Voice: High piping whistle that ends with a slur, repeated at intervals of about a second. Sometimes trilled.
- Other: Adults live in wet woods or brush near ponds, pools or swamps. Breeding males begin to sing, usually in choruses, during the first wet spring evenings. Breed in woodland pools or ponds. Eggs hatch in 6 to 12 days; tadpoles usually transform in July.
Jeepers Peepers Activity
(1) Using the Internet (see Web Resources page) or CD from Maine Amphibians and Reptiles teach the students to recognize the calling of spring peepers. This can be done by having the students listen to the calls. If you have access to the CD, you may wish to test/practice other frog calls with the students.
(2) Starting February 27, each day inquire of your students if anyone has heard a spring peeper calling. Record the date. Once 3 different students have heard a small group of spring peepers calling (you are able to identify or count the number of frogs calling) submit the date of the third recorded vocalization to DEP. Each day inquire if any student has heard a large chorus of spring peepers calling (so many calling that there is no way to count the number of frogs). Record the date. Once 3 students have heard a full chorus of spring peepers, submit the date of the third 'sighting' to DEP.
