Thousands Of Singing Spring Peepers Are A Welcome Sound Of A New Season Here In North Carolina

Certain telltale signs from nature's smallest of creatures signal the official start of spring each year in the Tar Heel State. The return of hummingbirds to our backyards, for instance, is always a welcome sight to bring a smile to our hearts no matter what's going on in the world. However, you may be asking "do Spring Peepers live in North Carolina in the spring?" Yes! The sweet chirping of this tiny North Carolina state frog is also a sure sign of spring in North Carolina. Keep an ear out for the spring peepers in North Carolina, and read on to learn more about them!

For those living near even the smallest body of water, be it a tiny pond or a large lake, the spring peepers sound is a joyous, albeit loud, addition to the sounds of nature starting in late March and on into the summer in North Carolina.

Two species of the Spring Peeper exist in North America, but the one most common in North Carolina is the P. c. crucifer, a tiny amphibian that grows to a maximum length of 1.5 inches.

Springtime signals the beginning of breeding season for Spring Peepers.

Eggs will ultimately be laid in water (so tadpoles will have the ability to swim) and the Peepers breed in clusters of about 100 individual frogs.

The male of the species is the one responsible for the loud chorus heard each evening at around dusk.

To attract potential mates, the males have a pouch that fills with air and sends out an unmistakable song when it deflates.

Females answer the call and the reproduction begins.

The cluster of Peepers will lay anywhere from 900 to 1,000 eggs hidden under vegetation and such within the water.

Once the eggs hatch, the Peeper tadpoles take two or three months to mature.

And the cycle begins again.

For more information on these tiny frogs, visit the North Carolina wildlife website. Have you heard Spring Peepers in your neck of the state? Did you know these tiny frogs were a sign of spring in North Carolina? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments! Join the discussion and let us know!