Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I live in west central MO, I am all about the reptiles, and have never gone looking for amphibians. I have been ITCHING to go take some herp picts, but we've been under winter lock-down for 7 months!
There is a shallow water filled basin near my house and the sounds of frogs comming from it is DEAFENING!
I figured I'd go take a few shots of them for practice.
I waded around in that freezin-arse water for over an hour, and never even SAW a frog!!!
What gives?!
What species?
Where the heck do they hide?

mmmmmm chewy!!

perhaps this is where the frogs live!

Photographing calling frogs is a blast, although it does take some patience and tolerance for sitting VERY still in the dark waiting for a frog to call.

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Chris Harrison

To find those guys you have to be very patient. They can be very nervous. When I find them it usually takes like 20 minutes to zero in on one. You have to focus on one frog. Listen to where you think it is coming from and then move towards the sound very slow. If you spook it stop and wait til it starts up again. Repeat this and you will eventually find the little guys. Remember these guys are very tiny maxing out in lenght at around an inch. Usually once you spot one all the sudden you start seeing them with out much effort. Also if have a building nearby that has security lights or something like that that has like only a few lights on it, you can usually spot a ton of those frogs at night. Also they like to hide in clumps of grass. They will not be in the open water. Good luck and update us on your finds.

out here in east central Kansas. In the last 2 years we had them vocalizing in very late Jan. and most of Feb. My evaporating sewer lagoon sounded like aircraft taking off last night. The frogs are about a month and a half late this year for some reason. The temps were not extraordinary cold but extra rain was abundant so far this year. BUT it hasn't rained in 13 days now and no rain expected for some time. I love my lagoon because of not only the frogs but other wildlife including those eastern hog noses several years ago. But I have some critter of a mammal out there that eats about everything and then the Great Blue Herons that fly in. Ouch !

Those are actually Western Chrorus Frogs, Chambo. Spring Peepers have not been recorded away from the Ks. and Mo. state line yet, 'cept for a few exceptions. But I'm sure you already knew that.

Here's a trick I learned about 2 years ago. It's a long shot, and probably not something that many people have access to, but it's worth it. I have a NightOwl Optics night vision monocular from a couple years ago when I was tracking foxes after dark. I took it up to a pond near my house one night and when I turned the IR illuminator on, all I saw were dozens and dozens of peeper eyes looking back at me. I was able to walk up to within a few feet of them before they'd quiet down. Since you don't need any light at all to use the scope, they usually only stay quiet for a few seconds before they start calling again.

from a few weeks ago while herping in the Nat forest around Nacogdoches,Tx. I've always found crucifer clinging to vegetation a few inches or higher above the surface of the water or while swimming across the surface and ofcourse the occassional one on the road.


-scott
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Scott@texassnakes.net

in addition to sneaking up on them quietly....they will scoot around to the other side of a reed when they see you, like a day gecko. always check the backsides of reeds and sticks while looking for them. they are there, just being weasels.
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- Happy herping!

KE

sometimes they hide under leafs and other stuff right on the waters edge too. and right inside those lil grass clumps.
Wayne