Gray Tree Frogs

The gray tree frog is one of two native species of tree frogs.  The other is Cope’s tree frog which happens to look exactly like the gray tree frog though a bit smaller in size.  They can be distinguished by their calls – the gray tree frog has a slower, more musical call.   The gray tree frog is small, about two inches in length, and found throughout the eastern half of the U.S.   They’re arboreal, meaning they live in trees, and are found in a variety of wooded habitats near water – forests, swamps, farmland, and our backyards.   

The gray tree frog’s color ranges from green to gray to brown and it can change its color based on the time of day, surrounding temperature and activities.  And it can do this color change in seconds!  The ability to change its color allows the frog to camouflage itself whether it clinging to a leaf or tree bark.  Their scientific name, Hyla versicolor which is Latin for variable color, comes from this ability to change their skin color.  Gray tree frogs are nocturnal.  During the day they hide and sleep in tree holes, under leaves, under tree roots, and in and under rotten logs.  They come out at night to feed on a variety insects, snails, slugs and even smaller frogs.  Males call at night, a loud musical call from late April to early August, to establish their breeding territory and find a mate.

Gray tree frogs play a critical role in Ohio ecosystems as both pest control and prey to larger animals such as birds, small mammals, snakes and other frogs.  And, like all amphibians, they are important indicators of the health of their ecosystem as they are among the first to be affected by any negative changes to their habitat.  Frogs and other amphibians are dying off at an alarming rate around the world with an estimated 200 species of frogs having gone extinct since the 1970’s.  Artificial light at night is harming frog populations.  Gray tree frogs evolved to become nocturnal and arboreal to avoid predators.  Artificial light may prevent them from feeding and makes them more visible to predators.  These lights disrupt their nighttime croaking, interfering with their reproduction and leading to reductions in their populations.  These frogs provide a lovely springtime chorus that we would be poorer for if lost.  Let’s help the gray tree frogs by turning off all unnecessary lights.