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Okay, how do you tell the difference between a Bullfrog and a Green Frog? They both inhabit some of the same ponds and bogs. They are both approximately 6-9 cm in size, but the Green Frog displays a distinct ridge running down each side of its back, and the Bullfrog does not.

How about telling the difference between a male and female Green Frog? That’s a bit more difficult. You have to be able to examine them very closely — the male Green frog has an eardrum two times the size of its eye, whereas the female’s eardrum is about the same size as her ear. So, now you know!

Green Frogs prefer to live in weedy areas, warm ponds, shallow marshes, lakes and slow rivers. During summertime, you might spy a green frog cruising along the shoreline where it searches for yummy insects to munch on. During the winter, Green Frogs hibernate at the bottom of ponds and lakes. They emerge in early Spring, and can withstand the cold and icy conditions of this time of year. They do not begin breeding until the water gets warmer, say in June and July. At this time of year, adult males will begin to mark their territories which exist about 10 meters apart from each other.

If you hear croaking and creaking at night by the lake or pond, you can probably assume that you are hearing a male frog keeping his territory. You may be able to discern four types of territorial calls. Usually he can keep his territory protected by making all this noise, but sometimes, another Green Frog will challenge him and they will croak out some warning calls. Then they engage in a fight, leaving them exhausted afterwards. Left to recuperate, the frogs are vulnerable to other predators and even other sneaky frogs. Good reason for them to sound really loud and big when they call out their territory.

Now, even the wimpy frogs can survive, but they have to be clever. One trick is for the frog is to submerge himself in the water so that his froggy eyes are just peeping out of the water. The larger males will allow these scrawny characters to exist in their space, because they don’t seem to be a threat. The smaller males are known as “satellite males.” And guess who looks for an opportunity to take over the territory when the dominant male is busy? Yep, the clever little frog lurking in the water!

Territory is important after all, since female frogs only will mate with males who have secured proper territory. Once the eggs are laid by the female and fertilized by the male, they develop to the point where they can hatch in mid-summer. Once they have hatched, the tadpoles emerge and swim around like fish until they grow legs and become froglets. The flow of blood ceases to nourish the tail and it falls off. The mouth becomes wider, and the frog’s intestines grow to be long enough to support a carnivorous diet; they eat grasshoppers, flies, spiders, beetles and snails. Then they get busy — travelling miles around in search of good habitat. They have the ability to always find their original home.

One of the most frightening things happening to frogs’ homes is that the pollution caused by industry and human waste is killing them rapidly. They are very sensitive to polluted water, and have been gravely affected by it. If you are fortunate enough to enjoy the company of frogs, you can try to appreciate and respect their habitat by reducing waste and garbage.