Northern Leopard Frog
Lithobates pipiens

The Northern Leopard Frog varies in color from light green to pale brown. The most prominent identifying feature is its dark round spots, like that of a leopard. However, sometimes this frog will only have spots on its legs, or none at all! It also has pinkish folds running from the back of the eye down the back, and from under the nostril to the shoulder.

This amphibian eats mainly insects such as beetles, flies and worms, but can also be found preying on smaller frogs, birds and snakes. It breeds at the end of April and the females lay up to 7000 eggs! In the wild, these frogs will live for three or four years.

The northern leopard frog is very adaptable and can live in a variety of habitats. It breeds in small ponds, marshes and pools with lots of vegetation and no fish. The mature frogs feed in open meadows and fields usually near water, however they can sometimes be found significant distances away from open water. In the winter, this frog will hibernate in larger bodies of water that do not freeze to the bottom such as flowing creeks, rivers and lakes.

Currently the Species at Risk Act lists these frogs as “special concern”. Leopard Frogs are common in southwestern Saskatchewan. Although they are “locally abundant”, their populations in other parts of Saskatchewan are declining.

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