05/2/13

A – Z Frog Species: American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)

american bullfrog
 
Is the most widely spread “true frog” of North America. Found in almost any body of water, they are aggressive predators, consuming everything from plants to small mammals. It is said that if the Bullfrog can shove it in its mouth… it will be eaten! Starting as eggs they go through metamorphosis in 3 months to 3 years depending on climate. Northern specimens taking longer than those in warm southern states. A frog jumping contest favorite, these amphibians can leap as far as 6 feet in a single bound!
 

Coyote Peterson with frog
New series by guest blogger, Coyote Peterson, Coyote Peterson Brands, LLC.

04/22/13

A – Z Frog Species: Spring Peeper – Pseudacris crucifer

Spring Peeper

Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) is a tiny little chorus frog found across most of the eastern U.S. and Canada. Tan with a dark cross on its back they are often less than an inch in length. Making home to a number of wetland environments they prefer semi-wooded areas and must lay their eggs in an aquatic location. Feeding on a variety of invertebrates they can often be found near lights in warm summer months where all sorts of bugs gather. Capable of surviving temperatures as low as -8 dC they hibernate under logs or beneath lose bark. One of the greatest sounds of spring, their call, signals warm weather is here!

Coyote Peterson with frog
New series by guest blogger, Coyote Peterson, Coyote Peterson Brands, LLC.

08/13/10

Many thanks, and a red-eyed tree frog for you (rerun)

Susan and I are hosting family and friends this week and so will be re-running a few posts from this past year. It’s been a HOT summer in the NYC area. We thought we’d re-post a holiday post to remind us of cooler days ahead. Also, if you’re a teacher this is a nice little poster to put up in your classroom in September. This post is originally from November 2009.

We have a lot to be grateful for at FROGS ARE GREEN. We’ve received over 10,000 visitors since we started the blog back in May. (Update: we are now up to 4500 visitors a month!). We are so grateful for your comments and for your participation in our blog.

As a token of our thanks, Susan designed a poster of our mascot, the Red-Eyed Tree Frog, that you can download and print out for FREE (in three different sizes). We hope you enjoy it and will put up a copy at your home, school, or office to spread the message about our amphibian friends.

Don’t forget to check our galleries of our photo contest photos, wonderful frog art from kids, and photos of wild backyards! (Click on the pictures in the right column of the blog. Feel free to send us your pictures to be included, too!)

Click here and it will take you to the download page.

red-eye-frog-poster-blog-sm

Update 8/10: We have two contests going on right now—a photo contest and a kids’ art contest. Summer is a good time to take pictures of frogs and to do some drawing, so please consider entering! See Contest link at top of page.

03/7/10

Save the Frogs Day! April 30, 2010

Did you know that April 30th is Save the Frogs Day?

Save-The-Frogs-Day-Treefrog-328

Dr. Kerry Kriger, conservation biologist, founder, and Executive Director of the amphibian conservation organization, Save the Frogs, first conceived of and coordinated this event in 2009. The goal of Save the Frogs Day is to raise awareness about the global amphibian extinction, and to get people of all ages involved in amphibian conservation efforts. On his Save the Frogs website, Dr. Kriger has a powerpoint presentation that can be downloaded, lesson plans for teachers, and many other ideas for students to get involved.

You might consider putting up a display in your school or community center. Susan and I recently put up a display at City Hall in Hoboken, New Jersey, with frog books, drawings of frogs we’ve received from kids, illustrated posters, a poster about the global amphibian decline, and so on. So many people stopped to look at the display as we were putting it up. They were genuinely surprised to learn that amphibians were in such danger.

FROGS ARE GREEN display currently at City Hall, Hoboken, New Jersey

FROGS ARE GREEN display currently at City Hall, Hoboken, New Jersey

You can download our mission poster (seen above on the right and left in the display) or a poster of a rainforest tree frog in our store. We also have eco-bands made from 100% recycled silicone, other posters, and t-shirts (proceeds go toward Save the Frogs and Amphibian Ark ).

You may also want to throw a Save the Frogs Day party with fun frog-related party favors.

Please send us your event ideas or JPEGs of your Save the Frogs Day event and we will post them in a gallery on our blog!