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and the deep bass resonance of the bullfrog’s “jug-o-rum” call. Altogether, there are thirteen species native to this part of Virginia, each with its own distinctive song, habitat needs, and life history.
Conserving our frogs
So far, none of the frogs and toads in this part of Virginia is known to be threatened, but many species have declined with the loss of natural wetlands. Others may soon be in trouble. We can all help maintain them as part of our landscape by learning about their conservation needs through “Year of the Frog” activities.
Some measures which will benefit native amphibians and other wetland species include maintaining or planting native vegetation, and avoiding the spray of pesticides and herbicides in and around wetlands; fencing cows out of streams; and developing ponds with gently sloping sides, lots of vegetation, and no fish.
You can also learn to identify their calls and then monitor their arrival every ? spring. Hopefully every year will be a ban, ner year for the frogs and toads of your famprite wetland.
For further information;
• The National Wildlife Federation maintains Frogwatch USA* a volunteer frog monitoring program (www.nwf.org/ frogwatchUSA). The Rappahannock League for Environmental Protection’s Biodiversity Task Force provides training and: is organizing participation in Rappahannock County and adjacent areas, in cooper—ation with the Virginia Master Naturalist Program; contact marshall .jones@mindk spnng.com. saw* % * • The National Zoo has many “Year of the Frog” activities and links (nationalzoo, si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Year*>" ftheFrog).
• The Virginia Herpetological Society lms an excellent website (http://fwie.far.vt. edu/VHS) with descriptions, photos, calls, and conservation information about of all 26 Virginia species of frogs and totals, well as salamanders, turtles, snakes, and lizards. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries also has extensiveinformation about Virginia’s amphibians^ •'"(www.dgif.state.va.ua/wikllife).
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