The Blanchard's Cricket Frog
(Acris crepitans blanchardi)

Listen to its Call:
A series of metallic "gick-gick-gick" noises, similar to the sound made when two pebbles are tapped together; the call, which may last more than 30 seconds, usually starts slow, then increases in tempo, sometimes ending in an irregular rattle.

Size: 1.6-3.8 cm in length (0.6-1.5 inches)

Coloring:
Brown, tan, olive or gray, sometimes with scattered green, reddish, or black blotches or spots, and a broad light stripe down the back; a dark triangle, pointed backward, is usually visible between the eyes.

Habitat:
Found in the open edges of permanent ponds, bogs, lakes, and slow-moving streams or rivers; in the Great Lakes region, this frog was once common in the southern parts of Wisconsin and Michigan, but now has all but disappeared and is considered an endangered species in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

he Blanchard's Cricket Frog has bumpy skin and long hind legs with webbed toes. You might spot this little frog along pond or lake edges, or in slow-moving streams or rivers. If aquatic plants are present, these frogs may be seen floating on algae mats or on water lily leaves.

Confusing Species:
The Western Chorus Frog has a whitish stripe along the upper lip and lengthwise brownish stripes on the sides and back; its toes are only slightly webbed. The Northern Spring Peeper has smoother skin and, usually, an X-shaped marking on the back.

Breeding: Mid-May through early July