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The link above is to a short video that I made several years ago. It is about these amazing frogs. I’m sure that I’ve posted it before in my blogging adventures but thought I’d like to add it to my new NATURE KNOWLEDGE series.
Wood Frogs are being studied for their amazing ability to keep from freezing solid while buried only inches beneath leaves and woodland debris. They spend most of their time on the forest floor but this time of year, sing into the night while gathering to lay eggs in vernal pools and ponds. Once you’ve heard their serenade, it is hard to ever consider not noticing them before!
The act of reproduction is called amplexus. Males cling to females while waiting for her to deposit eggs which they then fertilize with a cloud of sperm right after she deposits them. (On rare occasions, the number of males clinging to one female can weigh her down to the point of drowning her!)
Spotted salamanders lay their eggs during the same time period. In the case of spotted salamanders, the males leave sperm on the pond/pool floor. The female scoops up the sperm, beneath her tail, and her eggs are fertilized internally.
Often, the wood frog offspring and salamander offspring compete and eat each other in their journey to mature.
There are always dramas for survival taking place in nature, especially in the Spring.
Sillyfrog's Blog 
Love this blog:) keep um coming……
I very much appreciate your enthusiasm! Thanks again!
oh the drama in the natural world!
i am enjoying these entertaining posts.
Thanks Teresa…Had a stomach bug and haven’t finished reading your book. Love it so far!
My son loves all animals. Your pictures are gorgeous and enticing
Thank-you! This blog is aimed at kids…glad he’s watching!
I photographed a pair of wood frogs mating this spring (http://trekohio.com/2012/03/15/central-ohio-bayou/), but the two were so different looking that I wasn’t convinced they were the same species at first!
I enjoyed your video. It was interesting hearing the vocalizations, and I had no idea that they could live above the arctic circle.
Wow…love your photos! I enjoy your blog very much. It makes me feel as though I am traveling along 😉 Ohio is very much like Massachusetts and New York…feels like home.
Thanks, Susan!