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Range and Habitat: The Northern Leopard Frog is found through out much of the United States from the Eastern Nevada (Great River Basin) east through north-central U.S. to New England. In Canada the range extends from Nova Scotia to the Northwest Territories. The Northern Leopard frog is the most common frog in Minnesota and can be found throughout the state. The typical habitat of Northern Leopard Frogs is wetlands, ponds, lakes, wet meadows, or open fields close to water.
Habits and Adaptations: Northern Leopard Frogs are one of the more cold tolerant species of frog in Minnesota. The Northern Leopard frog overwinters in the mud at the bottom of ponds, lakes, or streams. They will overwinter there from Nov. through early April. They have also been found overwintering in aquatic vegetation and just under the ice at inflows to ponds.
Diet: The Northern Leopard Frog is a carnivore as an adult and eats worms, crickets, slugs, snails, and many insects (including mosquitos). Northern Leopard Frogs rely more on ambush to capture their prey.
Breeding and Maturation: Male Northern Leopard Frogs begin breeding calls when water temperatures reach 68 degrees Fahrenheit and after they reach breeding ponds. Mating begins in Minnesota in mid-April and lasts until June in breeding ponds. The females will mate once, lay eggs, and leave breeding ponds, while the males continue to breed multiple times and sometimes with other males or anything else that may be in the breeding pond. Females can lay 500-5,000 eggs in one large gelatinous mass in still water near aquatic plants. The eggs will hatch into tadpoles in 7-28 days and go through an incomplete metamorphosis into a frog within 12-16 weeks. Northern Leopard frogs reach sexual maturity at about 2-3 years and live between 6-9 years in captivity.
Miscellaneous: Toads and frogs are collectively known as anurans--tailless amphibians. The 14 species of toads and frogs found in Minnesota are grouped into three families: toads, treefrogs, and true frogs. The Northern Leopard Frog is nocturnal. The Northern Leopard Frog populations are stable in Minnesota, however, population levels have dropped in the last 50 years due to the threats of environmental pollution, habitat loss, fishing bait, and harvested for biological supply. Frogs are environmental indicator species because of their sensitivity to pollution and are often used in research and dissection classes.
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