Frogs in Ohio

Ohio is home to a mixture of at least 15 species of frogs and toads. If you are looking for some simple facts about Frogs in Ohio, this is your place. This is a simple guide to help you identify the Frogs in Ohio.

Frogs in Ohio

Blanchard’s Cricket Frog – Frogs in Ohio

Acris blanchardi

The Blanchard’s Cricket Frog is one of the many frogs in Ohio. It is usually just over 1.5 cm to 3.8 cm in length. This Ohio frog has some distinctive features. It has a dark triangle between the eyes along with a jagged dark line down the back of each thigh.

The Blanchard’s Cricket Frog is usually brown, gray, or olive. Some of these Ohio frogs may appear with red or green markings as well. This frog has scattered warts on its back and its belly is white.

The frog likes sunny areas along the water, such as the shores of rivers, creeks, and ponds. It prefers these sites for the vegetation and algae. You can find the Blanchard’s Cricket Frog in most parts of Ohio, though the most common place to find it is in Southwest Ohio. 

This frog’s lifespan is around 1 year!

Mountain Chorus Frog – Frogs in Ohio

Pseudacris brachyphona

Mountain Chorus Frogs are found mostly in Southeast Ohio. They are about 1 inch in length.

The frogs are mostly shades of tan or brown and some have darker markings on the back. The Mountain Chorus Frog has a distinct marking; it has two crescents that run down the back, bowing towards the spine. This frog also has a darker triangle between the eyes.

They like woodland as their habitat and use small pools and puddles in or near forests.

This frog’s lifespan is 1 to 3 years!

Northern Spring Peeper – Frogs in Ohio

Pseudacris crucifer

It is said that the Northern Spring Peeper may be the most popular frog in Ohio!

It is one of the first signs of spring with its shrill peep or whistle sound. This call is made typically from March to May, which is the breeding season for this frog.  Females rate the male by the quality of their call. The voice of this frog is loud, but they are hard to spot as they are only 0.75 inches to 1.75 inches in size.

The Northern Spring Peepers usually range from gray to brown. They camouflage very well with their surroundings. They do have a distinct marking; they have a dark (and very large) X on their back which makes them easy to identify if you do spot one. 

This frog’s lifespan is 2 to 4 years!

Western Chorus Frog – Frogs in Ohio

Pseudacris triseriata

You can find the Western Chorus Frog throughout Ohio. If you are in the eastern or southeastern part of the state, sightings of this Ohio frog may be more sparse. This is a small frog – approximately 1 inch in length. It is very similar to the Spring Peeper. 

It is usually brown, tan, or gray and has three dark stripes on its back.  Sometimes the stripes are broken up and look more like spots on the frog’s back. The Western Chorus Frog likes smaller pools, standing water, etc. They usually pick spots with thick grasses and other vegetation.

This frog’s lifespan is 1 to 4 years!

American Bullfrog – Frogs in Ohio

Lithobates catesbeianus

The American Bullfrog is actually the largest species of frog in Ohio and in North America.

American Bullfrogs are usually green-yellow in color and have some dark coloring across their body. You can tell the difference between and male and female by the size of their eardrum. The female American Bullfrogs have eardrums the size of their eyes! They are much much larger than the size of the males.

These frogs are active from April to October. Their call can be heard from a quarter mile to a mile away. 

This frog’s lifespan is 7 to15 years!

Northern Green Frog – Frogs in Ohio

Lithobates clamitans melanota

Northern Green Frogs are green to brown in color. Sometimes they will have noticeable spots. It has a ridge going down each side of its back, which differentiates it from the American Bullfrog.

Typically, the Northern Green Frog is between 2.25 inches to 3.5 inches in length. It likes to hide out in shallow freshwater. Its croak can be described as sounding like a loose banjo string. 

This frog’s lifespan is around 10 years!

Pickerel Frog – Frogs in Ohio

Lithobates palustris

You can find the Pickerel Frog near clear, cool streams as well as woodland springs or meadows. The frog ranges from 1.75 inches to 3 inches in length.

It is typically tan, light brown, or green on its back, with the belly being white in color. What is unique about the Pickerel Frog is that when its inner thighs are exposed they are bright orange or yellow. 

This frog’s lifespan is 5 to 8 years!

Northern Leopard Frog – Frogs in Ohio

Lithobates pipiens

This Ohio frog is mostly brown and green but has black spots like a leopard.

It likes to hang out in open areas like meadows and fields away from the water. It is often called a grass frog or meadow frog for this reason.

Full-sized Northern Leopard Frogs are usually 2 inches to 3.5 inches in length. When they feel threatened or frightened they will leap in a zig-zagged pattern until it reaches the water.

This frog’s lifespan is 2 to 4 years!

Southern Leopard Frog  – Frogs in Ohio

Lithobates sphenocephalus or Rana sphenocephala

The Southern Leopard Frogs range in size from 2 inches to 3.5 inches.

They are usually green or brown and their bellies are white.  You may see two or three rows of random black spots along the backs of these frogs. They do not have a black spot on their snout.

They like meadows, pastures, wooded areas, and some aquatic habitats. 

This frog’s lifespan is 2 to 4 years!

Wood Frog – Frogs in Ohio

Lithobates sylvaticus or Rana sylvatica

Wood Frogs like to hang out in woodlands that have deep and moist soils. They range in size from 3.5 cm to 7 cm.

These frogs are typically dark brown or tan, but some have been found with red to pink colorings. They typically do not have markings on their backs.

Their call is a series of short clucks. It is said that from a distance, it can sound like a flock of mallard ducks.

This frog’s lifespan is 1 to 3 years!

Gray Treefrog – Tree Frogs in Ohio

Dryophytes versicolor

It is said that the Gray Treefrog is magnificent at disguises. This is the largest tree frog in Ohio.

When it comes to color the Gray tree frog can actually be brown, green, gray, or black. It uses camouflage to blend into its surroundings. Typically, this Gray Tree Frog can be found in the northernmost parts of Ohio, specifically the northern two-thirds of Ohio.

They like to spend their time near small trees and shrubs. They have large sticky pads on their toes that help them to climb. You will often hear their woodpecker-like call right before or after a rain. They are generally 1.25 inches to 2 inches in length.

This frog’s lifespan is 7 to 10 years!

Cope’s Gray Treefrog – Tree Frogs in Ohio

Dryophytes chrysoscelis

The Cope’s Gray Tree Frog and the Gray Tree Frog are nearly identical when it comes to physical characteristics, how they behave, and where they live. The basic difference between the two tree frogs in Ohio is their call. It is very hard to tell the difference but there is one.

This frog’s lifespan is 7 to 10 years!

Toads In Ohio

Here are four species of toads that can be spotted in Ohio.

Eastern Spadefoot – Toads in Ohio

Scaphiopus holbrookii

The Eastern Spadefoot Toad (Family Pelobatidae) is a large toad. It ranges from about 1.5 inches to just over 3 inches in length. The skin of the Eastern Spadefoot Toad is smoother and softer compared to other toads.  This toad is also speckled with tiny warts. The color varies from tan to yellow to dark brown. 

It has two vertical lines that run from the head (back of eyes) down the back forming an hourglass shape. These Ohio toads prefer dry habitats, but they can be found in most habitats. They like to spend their time buried underground and often come to the surface after heavy rains.

This frog’s lifespan is 2 to 10 years!

Cane Toad – Toads in Ohio

Rhinella marina

The True Toads species (Family Bufonidae) are a family of toads that have warty skin, bigger bodies, short legs, and glands on the sides of their heads. The parotid glands on the sides of their heads secrete a poison that helps protect them from predators.

True Toads have no teeth and they do not have a breast bone. Most of the toads in this family are dull in color and widely range in size. True Toads can vary from 1 inch to 8 inches.

This toad’s lifespan is 10 to 15 years!

Fowler’s Toad – Toads in Ohio

Anaxyrus fowleri

The Fowler’s Toad had a very high-pitched trill that can last up to 30 seconds. It is a very distinct call that includes a low nasal sound that is only four seconds long. They do this over and over. The Fowler’s Toad is 2 inches to 3 inches in length. This toad is in both northern and southern Ohio.

The toads protect themselves from predators by burrowing, playing dead, or inflating their bodies. The toads are brown, tan, gray, or even light green.

This frog’s lifespan is 2 to 10 years!

Eastern American Toad – Toads in Ohio

Bufo americanus americanus

Eastern American Toads can range from 5 cm to 9 cm in length. This toad’s skin is very dry and full of warts. It likes to hang out in wooded areas, fields, and even urban areas. The backs of these toads vary from a red color to a gray or tan color with some dark spots. The belly of the Eastern American Toads is a lighter cream color.

This frog’s lifespan is 2 to 10 years!

Frogs in Ohio – which have you spotted?

Which frogs or toads have you seen in Ohio? We would love to hear from you! Drop us a comment below telling us about your sightings!

We have listed the preferred habitats of these frogs in Ohio, but you may also be able to spot them in other areas!

Some of our favorite places to explore are Hocking Hills & Ohio Nature Reserves. There you can find a ton of wildlife in Ohio including Ohio Caterpillars, Ohio Turtles, Snakes in Ohio, Garter Snakes in Ohio, and more!