Every spring, thousands of tiny Western chorus frogs emerge from their hibernation spots at the bottom of ponds and lakes to herald in the season with thousands of tiny songs. In a time when the world seems completely different than anything we've ever experienced, the return of the frogs' choruses is a welcome sound of normalcy.
This time of year in Utah, thousands of tiny Western chorus and Boreal chorus frogs emerge from their hibernation spots at the bottom of ponds and lakes and start singing.
These adorable little creatures average just 1.6 inches long, and they vary slightly in color from green to brown, depending on where they live.
You'll find Western chorus frogs in wetland areas, ponds, and small lakes. Though they're concentrated more heavily in Northern Utah, they also live in spots around Southern Utah as well.
Males establish and defend their territories, and choosy females find mates and lay their eggs. The females lay several clusters of 20-300 eggs throughout the season, and eggs hatch into tadpoles as early as three days later.
During mating season in the spring, wetland areas come alive with the songs and calls of male frogs looking for love. These little guys are pretty shy, and stay hidden most of the time, so it's rare to see them, but pretty common to hear them, especially in April, May, and June.
If you are lucky enough to spot a Western chorus frog, you can tell males from females easily, because males are smaller and have a yellow throat sac.
One of the best places to hear the frogs singing is The Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve. It has 4,000 acres of habitat that's perfect for the frogs, as well as the millions of migratory birds that pass through every year.
At the beginning of the mating season, the frogs are active all day long, especially during the warmest part of the day, but by the end of the season, you'll be most likely to hear them right before sunset.
Keep an ear out for the sweet sounds of the Western Chorus Frog! As of this writing, the Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve is currently closed due to COVID-19. Make sure to follow the preserve's Facebook page to see the latest updates, and in the meantime, you can scout out other spots like nearby ponds or fields to hear the frogs' calls.
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