Hobbies And Interests
Endangered Species Protection Act
Like other threatened or endangered animals, the Illinois chorus frog and the bird-voiced treefrog receive protection under the umbrella of the Endangered Species Protection Act. It is unlawful for any person to possess, take, transport, sell, dispose of or kill an animal species that is on the Endangered Species List.
Illinois Chorus Frog
The Illinois chorus frog grows to only 1 1/2 inches in length and is brown. The frog's name is derived from its distinctive mating call, which can be heard from more than one mile away. It lives in only a few sandy areas of Illinois where conditions are ripe for its survival. These areas are mainly in Central Illinois. The frog is so rare that not a lot is known about the species. During wet springs, it is easily found and heard. In dry springs and after the spring breeding season, however, it seems to disappear. During dry periods, the frog lives underground, eating moth larvae and never coming above ground.
Bird-Voiced Treefrog
The bird-voiced treefrog ranges from 1 1/4 inches to 2 1/4 inches in size. It received its name from its whistling mating call that resembles a bird. Southern Illinois marks the extreme northern range of this green and brown frog that is found mostly in Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. The frog lives in wooded areas with abundant water from rivers and creeks. It likes pools that are flooded in spring, which explains why it is in the area near the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers in extreme southern Illinois.
Considerations
Wet years are banner years for all kinds of frogs. While flooded rivers create havoc for humans, they provide greater breeding grounds for frogs, which helps threatened and endangered frog species. Research and continued protection, however, offer ongoing assistance for species such as the Illinois chorus frog and bird-voiced treefrog.