Identification of Terrestrial Wintering Habitat ofAcris crepitans(Northern Cricket Frog)

Abstract

Abstract We describe the winter hibernacula of three individual Acris crepitans (Northern Cricket Frogs) around Glenmere Lake in southeastern New York. Frogs were tracked by following fluorescent powder trails of treated Northern Cricket Frogs in late fall 2010. Three frogs were tracked to two subterranean burrows that were 87 m and 140 m from the nearest aquatic habitat. To determine if frogs survived until spring, the burrows were covered by small enclosures in late winter 2011. Northern Cricket Frogs emerged into both enclosures: one frog in one enclosure on 17 March and two frogs into the other enclosure on 10 April. This report confirms the use of subterranean terrestrial habitat distant from water as wintering habitat of Northern Cricket Frogs.