I watched a Green Tree Frog hunting a mosquito at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. The entire encounter lasted only a moment, but my camera caught both parts of the attempted strike.
Green Tree Frog Hunting at Tuff Pond
The frog was resting beneath a broad green leaf near Tuff Pond. Water droplets still covered the leaf above it.
A mosquito hovered a short distance from the frog. In the first photo, the frog appears to be watching it closely.
A split second later, the frog launched its tongue toward the mosquito. I managed to photograph the tongue while it was extended.
I have no idea whether the frog caught its target. The mosquito is not visible in the second photo, so it may have escaped. Either way, the camera revealed an action that happened too quickly for me to study with my eyes.
I have photographed American Green Tree Frogs at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge many times. This was my first chance to capture one striking at such a small target.
Finding Tree Frogs Along a Refuge Road
I have a favorite place to search for these frogs at the refuge. I reach it by walking along a maintenance road used by refuge employees.
Visitors cannot drive this road. However, foot access is allowed from April 1 through September 1.
Tuff Pond sits beside the road. Green Tree Frogs gather among the plants near the pond’s edge. I have also found Gray Tree Frogs in this same area.
Their small size makes them difficult to spot. Their green coloring also blends well with the surrounding leaves and stems.
Over the years, I have learned to slow down and study the vegetation carefully. I search along leaves, stems, and shaded spaces where a frog might rest.
Lotus, cattails, smartweed, grasses, and other wetland plants provide many hiding places. Sometimes a frog sits in the open, yet I can still walk past without seeing it.
Photographing Frogs During an Arkansas Heat Wave
This summer has been extremely hot across the area. Temperatures have reached 100°F or higher for several weeks.
Because of the heat, I arrive at this location around sunrise. I usually find the frogs until about 8:00 a.m. After that, they become much harder for me to locate.
August has become my best month for finding Green Tree Frogs at Sequoyah. Earlier in summer, I often associate them with calling and breeding areas. By August, I find them spread through the wetland vegetation.
I have returned to several predictable locations during July and August. Knowing where to look helps, but every frog still takes patience to find.
This one rewarded that patience with a tongue strike I rarely get to see, much less photograph.