Mr. Pickerel Frog

Pickerel Frog, Rana palustris

Here is a picture of a (2) Pickerel frogs and along with a Wood frog. These frogs were caught at my dads house and released at my place after we enjoyed them for a few days. What I didn't realize and found interesting when putting this blog article together is the fact that the Pickerel frog produces a toxic skin secretions that is fatal if it is absorbed through the skin of other frogs - Here I am housing these critters together. The good news is that no harm came to any of them, we didn't keep them long enough. I still see these guys around when I am out and about in the back yard. As a matter of fact I had to scoop the smaller Pickerel frog out of our pool just the other day.

The pickerel frog is a medium sized frog being about 3 inches in body length with smooth-skin. Adults are tan or brown (never green) with four to five pairs of squarish brown spots. They have complete light gold dorsolateral ridges down the back. The belly is plain white. There is a distinctive yellowish wash in the groin areas and the thighs. There are brown tiger stripes on the hind legs.

Pickerel Frogs are similar to Northern Leopard Frogs in general size and appearance. Unlike leopard frogs, pickerel frogs are always brown (leopard frogs, except plains leopards, may be green or brown), have square spots arranged in pairs on the back, and a yellowish wash on the thighs (all leopard frogs usually have a greenish wash).

Pickerel frogs breed in spring (late April, May, and June). The males call is a deep snore. It is shorter and higher pitched than the northern leopard frog’s call and is usually not followed by a chuckle as in leopard frogs. They call from the shore or from underwater in shallow portions of the wetland. Females lay 2,000 to 3,000 eggs. The tadpoles transform in two or three months.

Side-by-side comparison of a Pickerel Frog vs a Leopard Frog