Critters + Crawlers

Critters + Crawlers Spring Peepers

by Adrienne Funderburg

From March to June, the spring peepers’ high-pitched calls echo from temporary woodland waters, called vernal pools, where they meet to mate and lay eggs. Their collective voices are reminiscent of a plethora of tiny toy car alarms in high-pitched ‘beeps,’ a fleet of squeakywheeled shopping carts or the very top range of a slide-whistle. Maybe these sounds aren’t typically associated with ‘springtime,’ but take an evening walk near a pond or wetlands, and their persistent peeping might make you notice otherwise.

These tiny locals fit well into our ecosystem around the lakes. They eat insects of all kinds, controlling the populations of whatever bugs fit into their mouths. They are also the prey of other native species, feeding birds, salamanders, snakes and carnivorous insects that can’t fit into the peepers’ mouths.

The spring peeper is small but mighty; a herald of spring and champion of the wet, low-lying areas common to lake communities. Lake life affords the unique opportunity to hear and see these tiny amphibian neighbors as we welcome the warmth and color of spring.

Those living near lakes, ponds or wetlands likely hear the season of spring as much as it is seen. Frogs and toads make up much of the chorus, yet none announce the season more emphatically than spring peepers.

Spring peepers are hard to find, but easy to recognize. Their most prominent features:

• Paperclip size, or smaller • Tan, brown, olive, or reddish color which camouflages them against leaves and logs • Smooth, damp skin • Dark “X” pattern across their back

Adrienne Funderburg is the research program specialist at the Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams, an enthusiast of all Indiana wildlife, but especially amphibians.

Lake Wawasee 11803 N. Ogden Point Road, Pier #46 Offered at $934,900

For those looking for their lake escape.

After Encore Sotheby’s International Realty’s successful acquisition of Reecer Properties in 2019, Lynn Reecer and her talented team of functional experts continues to lead the market in real estate sales volume in North East Indiana, since 2013.

With an average sales price of nearly $450,000, The Lynn Reecer Team helped more than 85 clients in the sale or purchase of real estate in 2019. Listings successfully sold by Lynn and her team also spent an average of just 40 days on the market. * As we look forward to 2020, The Lynn Reecer Team is excited to help clients throughout Northeast Indiana with the best possible service, an unparalleled marketing footprint, and access to discerning buyers throughout the world. Contact Lynn today to learn more about how she and her team can best serve you.

*Source: 2019 Indiana Regional MLS

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