We finished planting our new gladiola bed about a week ago, and were looking for something, anything to emerge, but we were delighted to find something altogether different from a gladiolus: a tree frog! Here in Michigan we don't see too many of those, at least in our area. (Or perhaps we don't know where to look!) But we have never seen one in our backyard before, so this was quite a big deal to us.
According to the Michigan DNR, there are only about 13 species of frogs and toads in Michigan. With all of our lakes, rivers and wetlands I would have thought that number would be much higher. And of those 13 species, only two of them are tree frogs: The Eastern Gray Tree Frog and the Cope's Gray Tree Frog. The only sure way to tell them apart is the number of chromosomes, the size of their red blood cells or the sound of their calls. Since our little guy never let out a peep, we have no way of knowing which one he was.
Of course, he was a little wary of us, but never showed a moment of panic even when he got into some really strange positions. He stayed in this particular pose for almost a full minute! At one point he jumped into a small arbor vita and played the part of a "real" tree frog.
But he was just as happy clinging to the front of Tony's T-shirt. . .
. . .I was a lot more worried about him falling than he was!
There is something amazing about the way little creatures like this one are so calm around us; perhaps they're not completely at ease, but they're certainly not as frantic as if they believed that we meant them any harm. Every time this happens, we become more resolved to be the good stewards of the earth that humans are meant to be. Maybe then we'll have more species of frogs and toads living in Michigan, eh? It could happen!
According to the Michigan DNR, there are only about 13 species of frogs and toads in Michigan. With all of our lakes, rivers and wetlands I would have thought that number would be much higher. And of those 13 species, only two of them are tree frogs: The Eastern Gray Tree Frog and the Cope's Gray Tree Frog. The only sure way to tell them apart is the number of chromosomes, the size of their red blood cells or the sound of their calls. Since our little guy never let out a peep, we have no way of knowing which one he was.
Of course, he was a little wary of us, but never showed a moment of panic even when he got into some really strange positions. He stayed in this particular pose for almost a full minute! At one point he jumped into a small arbor vita and played the part of a "real" tree frog.
But he was just as happy clinging to the front of Tony's T-shirt. . .
. . .I was a lot more worried about him falling than he was!
There is something amazing about the way little creatures like this one are so calm around us; perhaps they're not completely at ease, but they're certainly not as frantic as if they believed that we meant them any harm. Every time this happens, we become more resolved to be the good stewards of the earth that humans are meant to be. Maybe then we'll have more species of frogs and toads living in Michigan, eh? It could happen!
i'm not a big fan of frogs..but I'll admit, he's rather cute!
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