Nature Notebook

The developing green frog chorus at Sarett is being enhanced by another voice. The gray treefrog breeds from now into the summer. The males are advertising from the shrubs or trees where they usually “hang out.” The call is a short, melodic trill that can be confused with a bird or insect call. Usually they call in the evenings, but an overcast day can lead to a daytime concert. The frogs will continue to call after the breeding season ends especially during humid or rainy weather.

This treefrog is one of our smaller species, growing only to 2.5 inches. They can change their skin color from gray to green to blend better with the perch of the day. The adhesive toe pads on a treefrog allow it spend most of its time above ground in trees and shrubs, looking for insects. Many homeowners will find them sitting on outside potted plants or even the sides of houses where they will eat the insects attracted to outside lights.

Join a Sarett naturalist and other volunteers on Saturday, May 30 from 1 to 3 p.m. to help remove garlic mustard from our old growth forest preserve, Black’s Woods and join in an ice cream social afterwards. This is an easy activity for young and old alike! Please RSVP to volunteer@sarett.org or by calling 269-927-4832. Ice cream social follows immediately after the pull.