The Wood frog of Marcy Woods Pond

Bell6 by Earl Plato

I am getting excited for Marcy Woods. Plato, it’s still winter time! What is brown, wears a mask, can freeze solid for months and when it thaws can breed a few days later? It is the Wood frog
(Rana sylvatica) and it is found in Marcy Woods. John Urqrhart of Toronto Zoo writes, “ Wood frogs are fascinating creatures and can be found all over North America.”
Why would a Wood frog want to be able to freeze solid? There are two main reasons we are told. One, it enables this species to go anywhere and survive even the Arctic Circle. Two, the advantage of freezing is that he can hibernate closer to the surface and thus are the first frogs to emerge in the spring. That early emergence means the Wood frog is free of amphibian predators.
For years I and with some of my daughters and other nature lovers walked the Lower Trail at Marcy Woods to hear and see the little masked amphibians. Near the vernal pools and the Marcy pond you first hear the “quacking”. No kidding. At times past it was a very loud clamour. You know the scenario. As you approached the Wood frogs grew silent. Stop and wait some minutes. Then the quacking call resumed.
One year daughter Allison and I came upon a great number of mating Wood frogs at the Marcy pond. We are told that Wood frogs are known as explosive breeders. I believe it. These little frogs had come to the pond and did most of their breeding in a few days. Last year I missed the narrow breeding time. This year I hope to be more alert. What we have seen at peak mating time were a hundred or more of these Wood frogs scrambling over each other ‘quacking’ like mad ducks doing everything they can to find a mate. The two of us went to the far side of the pond and watched as the male frog quacked and was approached by a female. Urqurhart wrote, “The male frog grabs her and holds on in amplexus until she lays her eggs while he externally fertilizes them.” We returned three days later. No Wood frogs. They had gone their separate ways.
If you take time to enjoy this miracle of nature. Be careful not to disturb our little Wood frogs during their mating frenzy. They breed only once a year in order to survive in this contaminated world. Photo below was taken at Marcy Pond