Amphibians are vertebrates that live in water during their larval or immature stage, but then move onto land when maturing to adulthood. Frogs and salamanders play key roles in ecosystems as they are centrally nested in food webs and occur both in water and on land. They are excellent indicators of environmental change.
There are 20 species of amphibians that have been found within the Lakeshore. These include blue-spotted, eastern tiger, four-toed, red-backed, and spotted salamanders; common mudpuppy; central newt (previously known as the eastern newt); American and Fowler’s toads; Copes gray treefrog and gray treefrogs; American bullfrogs; and eastern wood, northern green, northern leopard, pickerel, spring peepers, and western chorus frogs. Some of these are more common than others. The various species of frogs will serenade visitors from early spring into mid-summer. Areas near small lakes and marshes or moist areas in the hardwood forests are the best spots for listening to their calls and for the opportunity to see their eggs in early spring.
