Scientific Name: Pseudacris crucifer
Common Name(s): Spring Peeper

Identification:
The spring peeper is a small tree frog that ranges from 0.98 to 1.5 inches in length at maturity. Their coloration ranges from shades of brown to dark gray, but temperature and other conditions can cause this coloration to vary. A distinct X-shaped pattern on their back makes this species easy to identify. Female spring peepers tend to be slightly larger and lighter in color than males. Males have a flap under their throat where the vocal pouch is located. This flap can be darker during the breeding season, when the males are calling to attract mates.

Range:
Pseudacris crucifer is native to eastern North America, and they can be found from Manitoba, Canada to Florida.

Ecology:
The spring peepers are carnivorous. They eat small insects and other small arthropods (i.e. ants, beetles, ticks, mites, and spiders). When spring peepers are in their tadpole stage, they graze on algae or decaying plant material in ponds and pools. Due to their diet, spring peepers play a strong role in forest ecosystems by controlling the insect population. Since they require ponds and pools to breed, they live in forests near wetlands.

As their common name implies, males make a chirping call in spring to attract a mate. Spring peepers are among the first frogs in the region to vocalize in the spring. Females lay between 750 and 1300 eggs. The eggs are laid in small clusters under vegetation in a wetland. Once the tadpoles hatch, they take 2-3 months to transform into a frog and move out of the aquatic habitat into the forest.

Spring peepers start breeding after their first year. Females are attracted to males with a certain volume and speed of call. Older and larger males have faster and louder calls, which are considered more attractive by females. Some males called “satellite males” do not make calls but position themselves near calling males to intercept females. Not all calls made by spring peepers are for mating. They also vocalize when fighting, after rain, and before hibernation.

Spring peepers are active from the end of winter until late fall when they dig into the ground to begin hibernation. They hibernate under logs and debris. In the northern reaches of the spring peeper’s habitat range they come out of hibernation before freezing temperatures have ended. Their bodies tolerate subfreezing temperatures down to about 18°F.

Special Notes:
Here in Bella Vista, spring peepers are the first frogs we will hear in spring. You might think you are hearing sleigh bells or car alarms, but when you hear the telltale “Peep peep!”, it means the spring peepers have come out of hibernation and spring has arrived.

Scientific Name: Marmota monax

Common Name(s): Groundhog, Woodchuck

 

Identification:

The groundhog is a medium-sized rodent, and the largest member of the squirrel family. Adult groundhogs range from 16-27” in total length, while weighing 4-14lbs. Males are typically larger than females. Fur color ranges from reddish-brown to dark grey. They have large, white or ivory incisors that grow 1/16” per week, but constant wear keeps them at a consistent length. Groundhogs are named such because their short, robust bodies are built for digging, and they are most often found on the ground foraging for food. However, they can climb trees, especially in response to predators.

Range:

Marmota monax is native to the eastern half of the U.S. and the southern half of Canada.

 

Ecology:

The groundhog is mostly herbivorous, consuming wild grasses, berries, flowers, and any other suitable vegetation. It will also consume grubs, insects, snails, and other small animals on occasion. They prefer open areas due to their diet, living in burrows along woodland edges or in prairies, fields, or open lots with lots of access to edible vegetation.

 

Groundhogs usually reach max size between two to three years of age. Wild groundhogs can live up to six years, with three being average. Groundhogs in captivity can live up to 14 years. In areas of human development, groundhogs often have access to open areas with edible plant growth, while lacking many natural predators. This leads to thriving populations which may become a nuisance. Groundhog predators of eastern North America include coyotes, badgers, bobcats, and red foxes. Juvenile groundhogs can be preyed upon by a larger variety of predators including cats, snakes, hawks, and most other opportunistic predators.

 

Breeding usually occurs in a groundhogs second year, but some may breed in their first. The breeding season runs from March to April. Mated pairs den together for the entire 32-day gestation period.  Before the young are birthed, the male leaves the den. One litter of two to six pups is produced per year. Pups are born blind and hairless. Once the pups have grown fur and can see, the male may or may not return to the den. Usually by the end of August, the family unit splits to burrow on their own.

 

The groundhog can be harvested for food and fur, but is underutilized. As mentioned above, they may also become a nuisance in areas where burrowing or feeding impacts farmers, homeowners, or earthen structures, such as dams.

 

Special Notes:

Here in Bella Vista, groundhogs can be found along most open roadsides, especially along Lancashire, which often leads to roadkill. They can also be found in just about any open field or empty forested lot.  For Lakes and Parks staff, groundhogs are somewhat troublesome as they often make burrows on the dry side of dams, which require filling.