Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor)


Group	Toads/Frogs
Code	AAABC02130
Order	Anura
Family	Hylidae
Author	LeConte, 1825
Rank	G5 (definitions)
Occurrence	P (definitions)
Scale	C (definitions)

County List:


Western UP	all
Eastern UP	all
Northern LP	all
Southern LP	all

Rule:

Forested or Mixed Forested/Nonforested Landscapes

Habitat Requirements may be distributed across the COMPARTMENT
1st alternative:
      (Northern Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Spruce/Fir (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Hemlock (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Mixed Upland Conifer (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Mixed Northern Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Any Forested Lowland (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or Treed Bog
   containing:
      Dead Down Woody Debris
   adjacent to:
      Any Emergent Wetland

2nd alternative:
      (Northern Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Spruce/Fir (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Hemlock (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Mixed Upland Conifer (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Mixed Northern Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Any Forested Lowland (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or Treed Bog
   containing:
      (Dead Down Woody Debris and Vernal Pools)

3rd alternative:
      (Northern Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Spruce/Fir (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Hemlock (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Mixed Upland Conifer (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Mixed Northern Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Any Forested Lowland (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or Treed Bog
   containing:
      Dead Down Woody Debris
   neighboring:
      (Sedge Meadow or Lowland Brush or Bog)
   adjacent to: (Pond or River)

view decision rule term definitions

Habitat List:

Habitats	Regen	Sap	Pole	Sm Saw	Lg Saw	Uneven
Aspen	no	no	no	no	no	-
Paper Birch	no	no	no	no	no	-
Oak	no	no	no	no	no	no
Assorted Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
Northern Hardwoods	no	no	no	YES	YES	YES
Spruce/Fir	no	no	no	YES	YES	YES
Hemlock	no	no	no	YES	YES	YES
Jack Pine	no	no	no	no	no	no
Red Pine	no	no	no	no	no	no
White Pine	no	no	no	no	no	no
Conifer Plantations	no	no	no	no	no	-
Mixed Upland Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
Mixed Northern Hardwoods	no	no	no	YES	YES	YES
Mixed Upland Conifer	no	no	no	YES	YES	YES
Mixed Pine	no	no	no	no	no	no
Swamp Hardwoods	no	no	no	YES	YES	YES
Balsam Poplar & Swamp Aspen & Swamp Birch	no	no	no	YES	YES	YES
Bottomland Hardwoods	no	no	no	YES	YES	YES
Tamarack	no	no	no	YES	YES	YES
Northern White Cedar	no	no	no	YES	YES	YES
Black Spruce	no	no	no	YES	YES	YES
Mixed Lowland Hardwoods	no	no	no	YES	YES	YES
Mixed Lowland Conifer	no	no	no	YES	YES	YES
Non-Forested	Pond, River, Marsh 1, Marsh 2 (MARSH), Sedge Meadow, Lowland Brush, Bog or Muskeg, Treed Bog
Special Features	Dead Down Woody Debris, Vernal Pools, Riparian

view size class definitions

Literature:

Harding, J. H. and J. A. Holman. 1992. Michigan frogs, toads, and salamanders a field guide and pocket reference. Co-operative Extension Service, Michigan State University. 144 pp.

Damp woods and wooded swamps are favored by these treefrogs, but they adapt quite well to farmlands and suburban areas.

Breeding sites include woodland ponds, swamps, marshes, and shallow lake margins. Males give their trills while perched in clumps of vegetation over or near water, usually after dark, or on humid, overcast days.

These frogs pass the winter months by digging into leaf litter or rotted wood, or hiding in tree crevices or hollows.

DeGraaf, R. M. and D. D. Rudis. 1986. New England wildlife: habitat, natural history, and distribution. GTR NE-108. Broomall, PA:USDA, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 491 pp.

Habitat: Forested regions with small trees, shrubs, and bushes near or in shallow water. Often found on moss or lichen on bark of old trees. Will breed in temporary pools or permanent water, swamps, bogs, ponds, weedy lakes, and roadside ditches; breeding sites are extremely variable. Commonly inhabit moist areas in hollow trees, under loose bark, or in rotted logs during summer months. Hibernate under tree roots, under leaves.

Special Habitat Requirements: Aquatic sites for breeding.

Hunter, M. L., J. Albright, and J. Arbuckle (editors). 1992. The amphibians and reptiles of Maine. Maine Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 838. 188p.

Habitat: This species inhabits forested areas near shallow water. It is not often seen at the edge of water or on the ground, but rather it perches on tree and shrub branches. Its skin color blends in well with moss or lichen covered bark, making it hard to spot even when one hears it at close range. Breeding sites are variable and include both permanent water and temporary pools or swamps.

Gray treefrogs hibernate near the soil surface hidden under tree roots, leaf litter, logs, or rocks.

Adult gray treefrogs forage mostly in trees, with an occasional trip to the ground. They are sometimes attracted to electric lights on the outside of buildings if insects are gathering there. Prey animals include insects, mites, snails, and spiders.