Out on a rainy morning to check small mammal traps with students. We were successful in live-trapping (and then releasing unharmed) red squirrels, deer mice, red-backed voles, and got a glimpse of one of my favorite amphibians, the wood frog. It is nice to have a reason to get up and go out even in the rain - you never know what you might see.

Spotted this gray tree frog (Hyla versicolor) on a shrub growing on a rocky outcropping in the river on the Stone Valley trail. Like chameleons, these frogs are able to change colors from gray to green depending on their surroundings. This was the first time I'd ever seen a green gray tree frog.

Many Northern New York natives find signing frogs joyful. I on the other do not really care for it......other knowing warmer weather is on its way once they begin to sing.

I jumped! As you can see, the toad is camouflaged very well on this log.

This frog has had better days...

we were having a campfire and some tree frogs were chirping beside us!

My dog scared up this little frog from the grass. We rescued it and put it up on the fence before the dog could play with it.

I found this little spring peeper hopping among the wild leeks this afternoon. Without the green leaves of the wild leeks, he blended right in with the ground and was hard to spot.

Walking here last week I noticed quite a few leopard frogs singing their love songs, so I came back, to find not only frogs, but one of my favorite spring wildlflowers, bloodroot, in bloom. In spite of the clouds and intermittent rain, this earth day is shaping up nicely!

I found this little frog hiding in the grass early one morning while conducting an amphibian survey for class. Although these creatures can move pretty fast, this one stayed put just long enough for me to get a picture of its lovely spots!