Louisiana is full of many types of wildlife and the Southern state is home to many different toads and frogs. Some are nocturnal, while others can be seen during the day. Some are small and live in trees, others are large and live in the swamps of south Louisiana. Louisiana frogs and toads help keep pests out of gardens and help control swamp insect populations.
American Bullfrog
The American bullfrog is the largest North American frog, growing between 3 and 8 inches long. Its color usually is shades of green or yellow, although its belly can be white. American bullfrogs are aquatic frogs that live in lakes, ponds or slow-moving bodies of water. They prefer areas with lots of vegetation to help provide camouflage. These nocturnal frogs eat crawfish, insects, minnows and other frogs. They have even been known to eat small birds and snakes.
Eastern Narrow-Mouthed Toad
Although its name implies that this toad lives in the East, its habitat actually extends all the way through Louisiana and into east Texas. This oval-shaped toad is fairly small, reaching only about 1.5 inches long. It has a pointed nose and a mottled coloring in shades of rust to gray. Some Eastern narrow-mouthed toads have light stripes down each side. These toads like to live near water, such as on the sides of ponds or in ditches. They often can be found underneath decaying branches or leaves. The Eastern narrow-mouthed toad is nocturnal and eats all kinds of insects, although it prefers ants.
Southern Leopard Frog
As its name implies, the Southern leopard frog has spots resembling those of a leopard. Its coloring is in shades of green and brown, and it grows between 2 and 5 inches long. The Southern leopard frog likes freshwater, living in the water most of the year. During the summer, the frog may live in moist vegetation. It is mostly nocturnal and feeds on insects. This is the most common frog hunted in Louisiana and other Southeastern states for frog legs.
Pig Frog
The pig frog lives in the Southern portion of Louisiana and can be quite large, growing 3 to 6 1/4 inches long. Its coloring varies from shades of olive green to dark brown. It has a pointed head and dark spots on its legs. The pig frog prefers to live in floating vegetation in large bodies of water, such as lakes and marshes. The nocturnal pig frog eats mostly crawfish and minnows.
