On the first day of June I heard Narrow-mouthed Toads calling from the Wetlands. They’re about 1-1.5 inches in length. They spend a good deal of their time in the woods in burrows or under rocks or logs so they’re tough to find visually. I heard their lamb-like “baaaa” calls coming from the Wetlands when the thunder storms of late May and early June brought them out to breed. I’ve yet to see one.
There have been 12 species of frogs and toads heard or seen since January around the Explore the Wild and Catch the Wind Loop. The Wetlands is full of the tadpoles of most, if not all, of those twelve species – a tadpole stew.
I noticed several small Pickerel Frogs in the Wetlands that were still wearing tadpole tails. Pickerel Frogs bred earlier this year in late winter/early spring. These “tailed” frogs are the offspring of that earlier breeding and are now ready to become full-fledged frogs.
In the previous journal entry (5/15-5/31) I made note of the Museum’s turtles leaving the water to lay eggs. I discovered two of their nests this past week. Both were dug up, the eggs left broken alongside the nest. Presumably, Raccoon. The nests can still be seen. One is at the main entrance to Explore the Wild, a small hole dug in the bare soil just to the right of the entrance. The other is about 30 feet further up the path towards Catch the Wind.
Join the conversation: