Who are they?
The Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens – formerly Rana pipiens) can be found in a variety of habitats, including marshlands, forests, agricultural areas and meadows. They are also well adapted to cold and can live in elevations up to 3,350 m. Like many amphibians, the Northern Leopard Frog is greenish brown in color. This species, however, is easily identified by the distinctive dark, circular spots speckled across its back and its legs. These spots differ on each individual, so no two leopard frogs are alike. This convenient trait makes it easier to identify individual frogs.
Their range is most of northern North America, except on the Pacific Coast. They generally live near ponds and marshes, but will often venture into well-covered grasslands as well, earning them their other common name, the meadow frog.
Leopard frogs will eat just about anything they can fit in their mouths. They sit still and wait for prey to happen by, then pounce with their powerful legs. They eat beetles, ants, flies, worms, smaller frogs, including their own species, and even birds, and garter snakes.
Their range is most of northern North America, except on the Pacific Coast. They generally live near ponds and marshes, but will often venture into well-covered grasslands as well, earning them their other common name, the meadow frog.
Leopard frogs will eat just about anything they can fit in their mouths. They sit still and wait for prey to happen by, then pounce with their powerful legs. They eat beetles, ants, flies, worms, smaller frogs, including their own species, and even birds, and garter snakes.
How to hold the frogs
Holding the frogs are no easy task! They are very slippery and love to wiggle out of tight spots! There are few techniques to holding our frogs and here is one sure way to keep them from slipping away.
You must be very careful and handle your frogs with care; by covering the upper body you place your hand around the torso and hold firmly but not too hard, just tight enough to have a firm grip and control of their strong legs.
This technic will give you control to place the frog on the launching pad and encourage the frog to be a champion jumper.
You must be very careful and handle your frogs with care; by covering the upper body you place your hand around the torso and hold firmly but not too hard, just tight enough to have a firm grip and control of their strong legs.
This technic will give you control to place the frog on the launching pad and encourage the frog to be a champion jumper.
How do you catch them?
They are quick and sneaky, and can be hard to catch. Our special team of frog catchers embark on the quest every year to bring you the best frogs worthy of participating at the Canadian National Frog Jumping Championship! But how do they do it? Here are some tricks:
You can hunt for your special frog on Thursday July 12 th during the Great Canadian Frog Hunt , we will then store the potential champion frogs under cool conditions with a place to sit and water to wet themselves. The Frog Follies practice a safe and respectful catch and release program to ensure the highest care and conditions for our champions.
Equipments: You need a small towel to keep your hands dry, an ice cream pail or other bucket, tight fitting lid with ventilation, Rubber boots, water sandals or old runners you don't care if they get wet.
A lot of our champions use butterfly nets or tight small holed fishing nets with different lengths of handles to find the sneaky camoflaged Rana Pipiens.
Tip: Frogs are kept in well vented and cool storage until the time of competition.
You can hunt for your special frog on Thursday July 12 th during the Great Canadian Frog Hunt , we will then store the potential champion frogs under cool conditions with a place to sit and water to wet themselves. The Frog Follies practice a safe and respectful catch and release program to ensure the highest care and conditions for our champions.
Equipments: You need a small towel to keep your hands dry, an ice cream pail or other bucket, tight fitting lid with ventilation, Rubber boots, water sandals or old runners you don't care if they get wet.
A lot of our champions use butterfly nets or tight small holed fishing nets with different lengths of handles to find the sneaky camoflaged Rana Pipiens.
Tip: Frogs are kept in well vented and cool storage until the time of competition.
