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Spring Peeper

Pseudacris crucifer

Amphibian · family Hylidae · order Anura

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
35 states[3]
Typical length
2 in[4]

The Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) is a small frog in the family Hylidae[5]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure worldwide, and it is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[2][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Spring Peeper a global rank of G5 and a US national rank of N5[2][6]. Both mean Secure[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. The species is not listed as Endangered or Threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe notes that it has no reports of a large decline[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[9] 100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Where Spring Peeper lives

NatureServe lists the Spring Peeper as native in 35 US states and territories[3]. These include states from Maine and Florida in the east to Minnesota, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas in the middle of the country[3]. The list also includes the District of Columbia[3]. The state conservation ranks are shown in the table on this page[10].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S5MEWisconsin: native, state rank S5WIVermont: native, state rank S5VTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S5NHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: native, state rank S4MNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S5NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S5MAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: native, state rank S4IAIndiana: native, state rank S4INOhio: native, state rank SNROHPennsylvania: native, state rank S5PANew Jersey: native, state rank S5NJConnecticut: native, state rank S5CTRhode Island: native, state rank S5RICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: native, state rank S5MOKentucky: native, state rank S5KYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5WVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S5MDDelaware: native, state rank S5DEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: native, state rank S3KSArkansas: native, state rank S5ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5NCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S5SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S4DCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: native, state rank S5LAMississippi: native, state rank S5MSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S5TXFlorida: native, state rank S3FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[10].
Show state ranks (35 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
ArkansasS5Secure
ConnecticutS5Secure
DelawareS5Secure
District of ColumbiaS4Apparently Secure
FloridaS3Vulnerable
GeorgiaS5Secure
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS4Apparently Secure
IowaS4Apparently Secure
KansasS3Vulnerable
KentuckyS5Secure
LouisianaS5Secure
MaineS5Secure
MarylandS5Secure
MassachusettsS5Secure
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaS4Apparently Secure
MississippiS5Secure
MissouriS5Secure
New HampshireS5Secure
New JerseyS5Secure
New YorkS5Secure
North CarolinaS5Secure
OhioSNRNot Ranked
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
PennsylvaniaS5Secure
Rhode IslandS5Secure
South CarolinaS5Secure
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS5Secure
VermontS5Secure
VirginiaS5Secure
West VirginiaS5Secure
WisconsinS5Secure

Habitat

NatureServe records many habitat types for this frog, including hardwood, conifer and mixed forest, woodland, temporary pools, herbaceous and forested wetlands, bogs, riparian areas and shallow water[11]. Adults live mostly on the ground in damp, wooded areas near breeding pools and hide under logs and rocks when they are not out[12]. Eggs and tadpoles develop in small ponds, marshes, ditches and swamps, especially where there are plants or sticks in the water[12].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[11]

Size and diet

The Spring Peeper is a tiny frog, with a typical length of 4 cm (2 in)[4]. Adults eat small land invertebrates, which are animals without a backbone[13][14]. Tadpoles feed on algae, plant tissue and bits of organic matter floating in the water[13]. Females lay up to several hundred eggs, one at a time, on underwater plants or other objects[15]. Eggs hatch within several days at most, and tadpoles turn into frogs in 2 to 4 months[15]. A study of breeding frogs in Maryland found them to be 2 to 4 years old[15].

Trait Value
Typical length[4] 4 cm (2 in)
Food habits[14] Invertivore
Migration[16] non-migrant, local migrant

When to look for it

Spring Peepers are busiest around dusk and after dark[17]. They also move about by day, especially when it is wet[17]. They hibernate in winter, hiding under logs, rocks or other objects[12][18]. Frogs in the north breed in early spring[15]. Frogs in the south may breed in fall or winter too[15]. Some frogs move between breeding pools and nearby land, so NatureServe lists them as non-migrant or local migrant depending on the population[19][16]. Reports on GBIF peak in March, April and May, but these records show when people look and report, not how many frogs there are[20].

January: 936 recordsJanFebruary: 3,196 recordsFebMarch: 12,664 recordsMarApril: 13,054 recordsAprMay: 7,999 recordsMayJune: 4,292 recordsJunJuly: 4,295 recordsJulAugust: 4,567 recordsAugSeptember: 4,077 recordsSepOctober: 2,302 recordsOctNovember: 566 recordsNovDecember: 383 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[20].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January936
February3,196
March12,664
April13,054
May7,999
June4,292
July4,295
August4,567
September4,077
October2,302
November566
December383

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Spring Peeper as present in 51 park units[21]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 27 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: New York, Virginia, Michigan, Massachusetts, Ohio[22]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Spring Peeper endangered?
No. It is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 and N5, which mean Secure[2][6].
Where does the Spring Peeper live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 35 US states and territories, mostly in the eastern and central parts of the country[3]. It lives in damp woods and wetlands near breeding pools[11][12].
What does the Spring Peeper eat?
Adults eat small land invertebrates[13][14]. Tadpoles eat algae, plant tissue and organic matter in the water[13].
How big is a Spring Peeper?
Its typical length is 4 cm (2 in)[4].
When can you see Spring Peepers?
GBIF records peak in March, April and May[20]. The frogs are busiest after dark and around dusk[17].

Facts and sources

  1. Spring Peeper is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Spring Peeper: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Spring Peeper as native in 35 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 4 cm (2 in). NatureServe Explorer
  5. Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) is a amphibian in the family Hylidae, order Anura. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe notes on trend for Spring Peeper. NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe state ranks for Spring Peeper (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  11. Habitat types NatureServe records for Spring Peeper: Forest - hardwood, Forest - conifer, Forest - mixed, Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - conifer, Woodland - mixed, Temporary pool, Herbaceous wetland, Scrub-shrub wetland, Forested wetland, Bog/fen,... NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on habitat for Spring Peeper. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on food for Spring Peeper. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  15. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Spring Peeper. NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe migration category for Spring Peeper: non-migrant, local migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  17. NatureServe notes on phenology for Spring Peeper. NatureServe Explorer
  18. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Hibernates/aestivates, Circadian. NatureServe Explorer
  19. NatureServe notes on migration for Spring Peeper. NatureServe Explorer
  20. GBIF observation records of Spring Peeper in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  21. NPSpecies park lists recording Spring Peeper as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  22. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Spring Peeper: New York, Virginia, Michigan, Massachusetts, Ohio. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.