We haven’t had a dog since our treasured girl of many years passed away.
Imagine my surprise hearing a little dog bark just off our deck. I stopped what I was doing, froze, and listened. I heard the bark again. From the sound, I knew it was close, but nothing moved. Peering in that direction, I didn’t see a dog or any other animal. But it was there. Surely my ears weren’t deceiving me. The barking stopped as I walked to the far end of the deck. Sneaky creature, shut up as I scanned the grassy area just off the deck.
On and off, throughout the day, I heard the loud bark. The next time I stepped outside, it was like stereo speakers. To my left and to my right, one barking call answered another. Now there were two barking creatures. Determined to find the source of this barrage of barks, I searched among the potted plants and trees.
At last, I found one. A slender, vibrant, lime green frog with white pinstripes on its sides and spots on its back sat a couple of feet off the ground on a screen door. The American Green Tree Frog was the culprit, emitting a bark sure to challenge a tiny dog, any day.
7 Fascinating Facts About The American Green Tree Frog
(Scientific name - Dryophytes cinereus)
1. For a general description of these tree dwellers, review the last paragraph in the essay above.
2. This common, native species is found in at least 16 states, mostly in the southeast portion of the US.
3. The American green tree frog is the official state amphibian for two southern states, Georgia and Louisiana.
4. This species is sometimes called, “Rain Frogs” as they breed after rainfall. Like weather forecasters, they seem to sense and announce upcoming rain by emitting a distinct call.
5. Their barking call sounds up to 75 times a minute.
6. The female lays from 300 to 1000 eggs fertilized by the male, among aquatic plants in shallow water. The eggs typically hatch in a week or so. The tadpoles develop into frogs in about a month.
7. Although some people keep frogs as pets, they are beneficial to our environment and best left in the wild as they consume lots of pesky mosquitoes and flies.
By Deborah S. Tukua, author / www.deborahstukua.com