Traveling around Cades Cove, I encountered a loud peeping noise in the meadow. Looking closer I saw a puddle which appeared to be bubbling with activity. The noise was non-stop and the puddle boiled away. I later learned these were wood frogs mating. It has been a warm winter and these guys were a bit early but their eggs will survive even if frozen. The frogs themselves can survive multiple freeze thaw events. Chemicals in their blood and liver allow them to weather the winter. Small and often found in leaf litter the most noticeable characteristic is the black eye band. "Banditos" as Patti calls them.
Patti the Frog Lady gathered some eggs from a small pond on a hike later in the week. There was snow on the ground but she was able to find some viable eggs and forming tadpoles.
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