FrogWatch USA is Association of Zoos and Aquarium’s flagship citizen science program that allows individuals and families to learn about the wetlands in their communities and help conserve amphibians by reporting the calls of local frogs and toads. For over ten years, volunteers have been trained to enter their FrogWatch USA information and ongoing analyses of these data have been used to help develop practical strategies for the conservation of these important species.
Why Frogs?
Frogs and toads have served as important cultural symbols for centuries; this can range from symbolizing fertility in ancient Egypt, luck in Japan, and rain gods for some Native American cultures to Kermit the Frog’s status as a modern-day celebrity. Frogs and toads have been vitally important in the field of human medicine and compounds from their skin are currently being tested for anti-cancer and anti-HIV properties.
Frogs and toads also play an important role, serving as both prey and predator, in wetland ecosystems and are considered indicators of environmental health. Many previously abundant frog and toad populations have experienced dramatic population declines both in the United States and around the world and it’s essential that scientists understand the scope, geographic scale, and cause of these declines. Learn more about amphibian conservation.
FrogWatch USA Chapters
FrogWatch USA Chapters operate within a national AZA infrastructure and are hosted and managed by zoos, aquariums, and like-minded organizations. Development of a FrogWatch USA Chapter showcases each institution’s involvement in amphibian and wetland conservation, community engagement in research and education, and is essential to the advancement of the FrogWatch USA program. Learn more about hosting a FrogWatch USA Chapter.
FrogWatch USA Volunteers
FrogWatch USA volunteers learn to identify local frog and toad species by their calls during the breeding season and how to report their findings accurately. By mastering these skills, volunteers gain increased experience and control over asking and answering scientific questions which, in turn, augments science literacy, facilitates conservation action and stewardship, and increases knowledge of amphibians. Learn more about how to become a FrogWatch USA volunteer!
Become a FrogWatch USA Volunteer
You do not have to be a frog or toad expert to be a FrogWatch USA volunteer; all you need is an interest in frogs and toads and a willingness to participate in a volunteer training session at your local FrogWatch USA Chapter, hosted by AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums nationwide, and a commitment to monitor a site for 3 minutes at least twice a week throughout the breeding season.
Frog and toad breeding season generally extends from late January through August depending upon temperature, rainfall, length of the day, and biological factors for a specific locality and each species. A species may call year round in one part of the country and only for a few months in another place, as can be seen with green tree frogs (Hyla cinera) in Florida and Maryland. Some species can be heard vocalizing early in the year, such as wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) while the breeding season for others, such as cricket frogs (Acris spp.) starts later in the year.
Local Frogs and Toads
To find out which frogs and toads are in your area and hear their calls, review our Frogs and Toads by State List or a field guide. You can also test your identification skills by taking the U.S. Geological Survey’s Frog Quiz.
Volunteer Training
Volunteer training emphasizes the nature of science as it relates to frog and toad call identification and reporting. Lecture and course material focuses on the ways in which the volunteers contribute to the FrogWatch USA’s base of scientific data by following scientific and standardized data collection protocols and local frog and toad species as well as their basic natural history, range, and mating calls.
U.S. States and Territories
Click on the U.S. State or Territory where you live for a list of frogs and toads that live there.
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
District of Columbia
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virgin Islands
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
New York
The following is a list of frogs and toads that may be found in New York. Click on the links to learn more about each species, see pictures, and to hear recordings of their calls.
Atlantic Coast Leopard Frog
Please note that this is a newly described species that requires careful documentation. Submitting sound recordings along with your observations is highly encouraged. Read more about the discovery of the species in this research article.
Boreal/western chorus frog complex
~RAMBLING WOODS 
