Pacific Tree Frog (Pseudacris regilla)
Our Vancouver Island Pacific Tree Frog is a species that mainly resides along the North American West Coast, from Baja California to British Columbia. It has also been found east as far as Montana. Its habitat altitude ranges from Sea level to more than 10,000 feet. Females are generally larger than males, with adult sizes of 2". Overall colours can vary from tan - brown to green, black and reddish grey. Black / dark brown spotting is common. These frogs also have a black colour stripe over the eye from nose to shoulder area. They also seasonally change colour as a protective measure to match their environment. Seasonal colour changes are responsive to changes in humidity and temperature.
For much of the year, Pacific Tree Frogs live in a variety of habitats, ranging from forests to grasslands, backyard ponds and summer planted garden pots. They like grasses, mosses and shrubs. With their long feet with sticky pads on the end, tree frogs, can climb & adhere themselves to surfaces. They are mostly active at night, mainly feeding on a variety of insects and spiders. During the day they often hide under decaying logs and leaf litter or grasses.
Mating occurs from late winter well into spring. Male frogs call females, with a croaking sound, invititing them to calm water areas. Eggs are then laid on sticks and grass stems in the water. Females can lay up to 750 eggs in groups of 10-70. Tadpoles hatch in 1 to 3 weeks, feeding on diatoms, algae and surface pollen. They take approximately 2 months to mature.
In cold weather, these frogs being cold blooded, will hibernate in warmer ice free places such as logs, leaves and of mud. Given ideal conditions, Pseudacris regilla can live up to 9 years.
