Bullfrog
Lithobates catesbeiana
NH Conservation Status: Not listed
State Rank Status: Widespread and secure
Distribution: Throughout NH
Description: The largest frog in North America at 3.5-6 inches. Color is generally green but may range from brownish to bluish to yellowish. The belly is whitish and may have gray or yellowish molting. They have a large circular disc behind the eye but lack ridges on the back (green frogs have ridges).
Commonly Confused Species: Green frog
Habitat: Found near larger bodies of water such as the shorelines of lakes, ponds, bogs, and slow-moving rivers. Requires emergent vegetation for cover. Often seen at water’s edge sitting on partially submerged logs.
Life History: Eggs are laid singly in large masses that appear like a film in lakes and ponds. Bullfrogs are voracious predators eating almost anything they can catch including insects, other frogs, young turtles, snakes, and birds. Hibernates underwater in mud and leaves.
Voice: A series of deep base notes resembling the phrase “jug-o-rum.” Males begin calling in May and June.
Conservation Threats: Water pollution from pesticides