Amphibians nocturnal

Pickerel Frog

Lithobates palustris

With its peculiar square spots and hidden flashes of yellow, the Pickerel Frog is the 'geometric beauty' of the amphibian world. Discover how to find this toxin-protected hopper in your own damp garden corners.

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Quick Identification

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Size

1.75 to 3 inches (4.5 to 7.5 cm); weighs roughly 0.5 to 1 ounce (15 to 28 g)

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Colors

Tan, brown, or olive-green base with two rows of dark, rectangular chocolate-brown spots. The inner thighs feature a bright yellow or orange 'flash' color.

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Key Features

Two rows of 'hand-drawn' square or rectangular spots along the back
Bright yellow or orange coloration on the inner surface of the hind legs
Uninterrupted light-colored ridges (dorsolateral folds) extending from the eye to the lower back

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern nocturnal

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Peak hours 8 PM - 2 AM; also active during overcast or rainy days

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Season March-June (breeding and peak activity); dormant during winter months

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Diet Insects and invertebrates including ants, beetles, spiders, crane flies, and occasionally small snails or earthworms.

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Habitat Cool, clear waters such as spring-fed streams, rocky ravines, and bogs, but frequently found in wet meadows and grassy garden borders.

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Behavior

The Pickerel Frog is a somewhat shy and secretive member of the leopard frog family, known primarily for its distinct, geometric markings and its unique chemical defense. Unlike many other frogs that rely solely on camouflage or speed, the Pickerel Frog produces a skin secretion that is toxic to many predators. This toxin is potent enough that placing a Pickerel Frog in a container with other frog species can often prove fatal to the others. Because of this, even snakes tend to give them a wide berth once they’ve had a bad experience.

These frogs are remarkably terrestrial compared to their cousins. While they return to the water to breed and stay near moist environments, it is not uncommon to find them wandering through tall grass, hayfields, or damp woodlands far from a permanent pond. They are skilled jumpers and will use their powerful hind legs to make several rapid, zig-zagging leaps toward the nearest cover if they feel threatened. During the breeding season, their call is a low, snore-like sound that lasts for about two seconds, often mistaken for a distant motor or a grumbling stomach.

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Camera Tips

Capturing the Pickerel Frog on a backyard camera requires a strategy focused on micro-habitats. Because these frogs are small and remain close to the ground, your camera should be mounted no more than 4 to 6 inches above the soil. A downward-facing angle is best to capture the distinctive 'hand-drawn' square spots on their backs, which are their most identifying feature. If you place your camera on a standard tree mount at chest height, you will likely only catch blurry motion or miss them entirely.

To encourage them to pose for the camera, look for 'waystations' between water sources and hunting grounds. A flat, mossy rock or a piece of driftwood near a damp garden edge makes an excellent stage. These frogs are attracted to moisture, so placing your camera near a dripping garden hose or a small, shallow water dish can be very effective. Since they are primarily nocturnal, ensure your camera's infrared flash is optimized for close-range subjects to avoid 'white-out' photos where the frog’s skin reflects too much light.

One of the best 'lures' for a Pickerel Frog isn't food, but light. By placing a small, solar-powered garden light a few feet away from your camera's field of view, you will attract the nocturnal insects they hunt. The frog will often sit patiently in the shadows just outside the light's radius, waiting for an easy meal. This setup provides high-action opportunities for your camera's video mode.

Timing is critical for this species. Set your camera to its most sensitive PIR (motion) setting during the first warm rains of spring. Pickerel Frogs are most active when humidity is high. Using a camera with a fast trigger speed (0.3 seconds or less) is highly recommended, as they are explosive jumpers. If you are using video, set the clip length to at least 15 seconds to capture their stalking behavior or their unique, snoring vocalizations during the breeding months.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Pickerel Frog.

Northern Leopard Frog

Features circular spots rather than squares and lacks the bright yellow/orange flash color on the inner thighs.

Southern Leopard Frog

Has a more pointed snout and a distinct white spot in the center of the eardrum (tympanum).

Frequently Asked Questions

Pickerel Frogs are primarily nocturnal, with their peak activity occurring between dusk and midnight. However, they are frequently seen during the day in tall, damp grass or during rainy, overcast weather when humidity is high.

To attract them, maintain a chemical-free garden with plenty of cover like leaf litter, log piles, and tall grass. They require clean, cool water, so a small garden pond with a solar fountain to keep water moving is more attractive to them than stagnant water.

They are generalist insectivores. Their diet consists of a wide variety of land-based invertebrates including beetles, ants, spiders, moths, and various larvae which they catch using their sticky, flick-out tongue.

Yes, they can be common in suburbs that have adjacent woodlands or streams. However, they are more sensitive to water pollution and pesticides than many other frogs, so they serve as an indicator of a healthy, clean local environment.

Look at the spots: Pickerel Frogs have rectangular or square-shaped spots arranged in two neat rows, while Leopard Frogs have circular, irregular spots. Additionally, if you can see the inner thigh, the Pickerel Frog has a bright yellow or orange patch that Leopard Frogs lack.

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