Near the Pea Ridge National Military Park, Benton County, Arkansas
This lone specimen just kind of *appeared* in a little pond that was chock full of Southern Leopard Frogs. It was a surprising find for a number of reasons:
1) I assumed their breeding season was already past. At another known Wood Frog location that I had visited a few weeks prior, I had found evidence of their past breeding activities in the form of egg masses and a few dead specimens.
2) I was on the periphery of their known range.
3) While rain was forecast for later that night, no precipitation had yet fallen. It was, however, quite a warm night for the season and the frogs must have sensed a humidity and pressure change because they were calling like crazy.
4) I didn't realize this species could grow so large! The specimen was about the size of my fist and I had to look at it with much scrutiny to convince myself that it wasn't just a light-colored Bronze Frog. It didn't help that the diagnostic "mask" was not as overwhelming as it is in most individuals.
