As the cool weather settles in to East Tennessee, our cold-blooded neighbors are busy with the business of finding safe places to become dormant. Here are several views of one of those little wanderers, who happened to cross our path over in Clark's Creek recently.
This is a very young Cope's Gray TreeFrog - just recently out of its tadpole stage. It will be 3 or 4 times this size by next summer!
Some folks call Gray Treefrogs "rain frogs," because they sing the most before and after summer evening storms. And some of their "cousin frogs," like spring peepers and chorus frogs, will sing again in the fall. But Gray Treefrogs. although they are VERY VOCAL on warm, wet summer nights, are pretty much silent during the cooler seasons.
This is probably our most common tree frog species, and the rich, damp forests of Clark's Creek (near Sill Branch Falls) seems to be one of their favorite habitats. They are also pretty common in the bath houses at the home park's campground!
This little frog was probably happy that the annoying photographer had to continue on down the trail! I hope you enjoyed these quick glimpses, and that you will share your comments & critique!