Juvinile Green Frog

Cleveland Metroparks naturalist Mark Warman conducted a Frogwatch survey at Bradley Woods this past Thursday on May 7th. We were greeted at the first survey site by a racoon looking for diner, and probably the subject of our survey! On the approach, Mark spotted the first amphibian, an American Toad. The site was home to several juvenile Green Frogs and American Toads and Spring Peepers could be calling from other locations. Nothing was calling at either Bradley Woods location but there was activity at the main lagoon. American Toads were tuning up, some distant Spring Peepers and a Green frog made his presence known. On the pond edge was several Bullfrogs of good size, but they didn’t say much. Several American toad satellite males were approaching a broadcasting male and clasped onto each other for a brief moment and I was able to record a release call. The male being clasped issues this call along with a vibration that triggers the other male to release it’s hold due to mistaken identity. While we were observing the toads, we heard a very soft grating sound coming from several locations near the ponds edge. Upon closer inspection, Mark noticed a small catfish moving under the leaf litter. I have heard catfish make sounds when captured, but never in the field! Here’s a recording of what we observed.