Life can throw a whole lot of curveballs at us that can leave us off-kilter. Some things, however, will never change, including the beautiful sounds of the season. Whether it’s the return of the ruby-throated hummingbirds or the singing of the spring peepers, spring’s soundtrack is oh-so-welcomed after a long winter. Do spring peepers come out in Missouri? And what are peepers? They do - and here's more about the spring peepers and when to expect them.
Spring peepers will soon be singing in the stillness of the night for most of Missouri. The only part of Missouri where you won’t find the tiny frogs is in the northwestern part of the state.
You’ll know spring has officially arrived in Missouri when you begin hearing the spring peepers, whose song is their mating call.
Hearing the spring peepers is actually a lot easier than spotting them in the wild. At just over an inch, the frogs are tiny. However, they’re easy to identify if you do see one.
You can tell if you’ve found a spring peeper by the X on his back. If you watch him singing, you’ll also notice the tiny frog’s throat bulges out like a bubble.
Spring peepers seek out wet, marshy areas, where they can find safety under a fallen tree branch or some brush. That’s also where the tiny frogs will hibernate during the winter.
Hibernation typically lasts until the temperature consistently averages around 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Listen for the spring peepers in the evening hours, especially in the spring.
However, when the daytime temperature hovers in the 70s in the summer, you may hear them singing during the day, too. Spring peepers are generally most active from April through October or November before going into hibernation.
When spring peepers hibernate, they stop breathing, often appearing dead to onlookers. The warmer weather allows them to wake up.
Ever wonder about the spring peepers sound? Click play below to hear a "chorus of spring peepers," from YouTube user Jeff McColl.
Do spring peepers come out in Missouri? They sure do! Are you excited about the return of the spring peepers in Missouri? Have you heard them yet? Let us know in the comments! Have you seen any ruby-throated hummingbirds in your corner of Missouri yet?
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!