• Tuesday-What'sUP May 20 - 10:25 pm

How inviting this scene from Brita Haapala is. That's a decent size pond and it seems to be inviting us to sit on the banks and daydream or find a few rocks and see how far you can toss them. There are smaller ponds all over the U.P. too, this one spotted by Brenda Leigh in the Menominee area. Looks like it could be a scene out of a movie about swamp creatures. There were a few creatures around when Brenda was exploring and she snapped their photo too. First a couple of frogs, so busy, they didn't even notice they were getting their picture taken. The bottom photo shows what they were busy doing. Those are freshly laid eggs zig-zagging all around the pond. I need to brush up on my biology classes I guess, since I can't remember if frogs eggs are fertilized before they're laid or if they are once they're in place. Can someone enlighten us?

Oh, I do really love that 2nd shot!!! Thanks for the great pictures this morning.

Nice pictures! Luckily, frogs don’t have attorneys.

Frogs mate then deposit fertilized eggs.

The photo is actually of toads and not frogs. As a child we spent many hours at the frog ponds catching frogs...however we would not pick up toads as we were always afraid of the old adage of getting warts.
During the breeding season the males have dark horny pads on their first two fingers that assist them in clasping females during breeding, a process called amplexus.
During amplexus, eggs from the female and sperm from the male are shed simultaneously into the water where fertilization occurs.

Mary says: Thanks for setting the record straight here Brenda! I never was real good at remembering there's a difference in frogs and toads, I just know they all go ribbet, ribbet! :->

I stand corrected, this is from www.allaboutfrogs.org
"When Frogs mate, the male frog tends to clasp the female underneath in an embrace called amplexus. He literally climbs on her back, reaches his arms around her "waist", either just in front of the hind legs, just behind the front legs, or even around the head. Amplexus can last several days! Usually, it occurs in the water, though some species mate on land or even in trees!
While in some cases, complicated courting behavior occurs before mating, many species of frogs are known for attempting to mate with anything that moves which isn't small enough to eat!
Spawn (egg-mass)
While in the amplexus position, the male frog fertilizes the eggs as they are laid. Frogs tend to lay eggs single eggs in masses, whereas toads usually lay eggs in long chains."
So, actually, those are toad eggs.

Interesting nature lesson. Thanks

Charlie thanks for the history lesson. That time in 1980 was memoriable to me in several ways. I was closing up my hairstyling business for good. The big thing on TV was...who shot JR....Mt Saint Helens blew and and I was getting ready to leave on my month-long trip to Ireland! What an intersting time in my life. Thanks for the memories!:o>)

Does anyone know if frogs/toads stay with the same mate year to year?

I heard that they stay together until they croak.

We are exploring next weekend if the weather cooperates and will be looking for frogs, turtles and anything else. Taylor would love these pictures.

Looks like it's time for my "wet noodle" treatment for Alex! You ought to be ashamed of yourself young man...:o>)

I thought it was pretty funny.

I think a trout slap might be more appropriate for that one, mostly because I didn't think of it first!! ;-)

Hey, what about those mosquitoes? Anyone know of anything to repel them? And the black flies?

Something I received on the Internet suggested using fabric softener sheets. Another said that Listerine works! I will try the mouth wash this summer, using a spray bottle.

So, Capt. Paul - Who would be the recipient of the "trout slap"?? Alex for saying it first? or you for not...

I feel bad for the trout either way...

What did the frog order at McDonald's?
French flies and a diet Croak.

sure would like to see some pictures of turtles....

todays humor award should go to alex in my opinion i remain

From our pond:

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