THAT QUACKING MAY NOT BE DUCKS!

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department has issued this neat article! I thought you might be interested in it!
It was written by Kim Tuttle, Biological Technician

THAT QUACKING MAY NOT BE DUCKS!

If you hear duck-like quacking sounds coming from vernal pools and other fishless waters (including swamps, pools in gravel pits and ditches) in the next few weeks, look a little closer. You might be surprised to discover that it is not ducks at all, but wood frogs calling. Male wood frogs often begin their enthusiastic quacking chorus in late March and early April, well before the spring peeper, even when ice may still partially cover their breeding pools. Wood frog choruses often go unheard, though, not only because of the brevity of their breeding activity (wood frogs may assemble, mate and depart their breeding pools in as short a time as a week), but because their quacking just doesn't carry that far, unlike the spring peeper. Also, wood frogs may call during the day in undisturbed locations but they generally begin "quacking" in the early evening hours and continue through the night.

The wood frog is easily recognized by its brown color and distinctive dark eye-mask. It is a medium-sized frog, up to 2.5 inches long, and can be found in woodlands and moist lawns bordering woods. Wood frog tadpoles feed on algae, leaves, aquatic plant material and microorganisms found in their breeding pools, while adults eat a variety of invertebrates such as worms, beetles, and caterpillars. They are quick transformers; tadpoles can be seen in April and small-sized versions of the adults can be seen leaving their pools in early to mid-summer. Hail to all quackers!