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Wood Frog

Lithobates sylvaticus

Amphibian · family Ranidae · 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
34 states[3]
Longest recorded life
5 years[4]

The Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) is an amphibian in the family Ranidae[5]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide, and it is native to 34 US states and territories[2][3].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Wood Frog a global rank of G5 (Secure) and a United States rank of N5 (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 in USFWS data[1]. NatureServe estimates more than 1,000,000 adults worldwide[8]. NatureServe notes that the trend is not known, though it is probably steady or slightly down[9].

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)[8] >1,000,000 individuals

Where Wood Frog lives

NatureServe lists the Wood Frog as native in 34 US states and territories, including Alaska, Colorado, Wyoming, and many states in the Midwest, the Northeast and the South, from Minnesota and Michigan to Maine, Georgia and Alabama[3]. NatureServe state ranks differ from state to state[10]. Observers report it most often in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Michigan and Vermont, but record counts follow how much people look, not how many frogs live there[11].

Alaska: native, state rank S5AKMaine: native, state rank S5MEWisconsin: native, state rank S4WIVermont: native, state rank S5VTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S5NHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SNRNDMinnesota: native, state rank S5MNIllinois: native, state rank S3ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S5NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S5MAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: native, state rank S1WYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S1SDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: native, state rank S4INOhio: native, state rank SNROHPennsylvania: native, state rank S4PANew Jersey: native, state rank S5NJConnecticut: native, state rank S4CTRhode Island: native, state rank S5RICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: native, state rank S3CONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: native, state rank S3MOKentucky: native, state rank S5KYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5WVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S5MDDelaware: native, state rank S4DEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: native, state rank S3ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5NCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S3SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S2DCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: native, state rank S2ALGeorgia: native, state rank S4GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[10].
Show state ranks (34 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS2Imperiled
AlaskaS5Secure
ArkansasS3Vulnerable
ColoradoS3Vulnerable
ConnecticutS4Apparently Secure
DelawareS4Apparently Secure
District of ColumbiaS2Imperiled
GeorgiaS4Apparently Secure
IllinoisS3Vulnerable
IndianaS4Apparently Secure
KentuckyS5Secure
MaineS5Secure
MarylandS5Secure
MassachusettsS5Secure
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaS5Secure
MissouriS3Vulnerable
New HampshireS5Secure
New JerseyS5Secure
New YorkS5Secure
North CarolinaS5Secure
North DakotaSNRNot Ranked
OhioSNRNot Ranked
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
PennsylvaniaS4Apparently Secure
Rhode IslandS5Secure
South CarolinaS3Vulnerable
South DakotaS1Critically Imperiled
TennesseeS5Secure
VermontS5Secure
VirginiaS5Secure
West VirginiaS5Secure
WisconsinS4Apparently Secure
WyomingS1Critically Imperiled

Habitat

NatureServe records the Wood Frog in hardwood, conifer and mixed forests and woodlands[12]. It also lists temporary pools, herbaceous wetlands, scrub-shrub wetlands, forested wetlands, bogs and fens, riparian areas and shallow water[12]. Eggs are usually laid in small ponds without fish, often vernal pools that may dry up, mostly in wooded areas[13]. When inactive in winter, the frogs hide in logs, leaf litter and humus, or under logs and rocks[13]. The National Park Service records the species in 13 park units[14].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[12]

Size, diet and lifespan

Adults eat small invertebrates, mostly ones that live on land[15][16]. Tadpoles eat algae, plant material and tiny water organisms, and they can also eat amphibian eggs and hatchlings[15]. NatureServe gives a typical length of 8 cm (3 in)[17]. AnAge lists a clutch size of 900[18] and female maturity at 912 days[19]. The longest recorded lifespan is 5 years[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[17] 8 cm (3 in)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 5 years
Litter or clutch size[18] 900
Female maturity[19] 912 days (about 2.5 years)
Food habits[16] Invertivore
Migration[20] local migrant

When to look for it

The Wood Frog is inactive in the cold season in the north and at high elevations, and it hibernates[21][22]. It spends the winter on land and can survive having some of its body fluids freeze, then thaws out with warm weather[21]. It is a local migrant that moves between breeding pools and land habitat[23][20]. Breeding happens in winter or in spring, later in the far north and at high elevations[24]. Observation records peak in March, April and June[25].

January: 435 recordsJanFebruary: 2,050 recordsFebMarch: 11,587 recordsMarApril: 13,562 recordsAprMay: 9,901 recordsMayJune: 12,985 recordsJunJuly: 7,815 recordsJulAugust: 5,704 recordsAugSeptember: 4,664 recordsSepOctober: 1,766 recordsOctNovember: 246 recordsNovDecember: 93 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[25].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January435
February2,050
March11,587
April13,562
May9,901
June12,985
July7,815
August5,704
September4,664
October1,766
November246
December93

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Wood Frog as present in 13 park units[14]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Michigan, Vermont[11]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Wood Frog endangered?
No. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide and it is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[2][1].
Where does the Wood Frog live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 34 US states and territories, including Alaska, Colorado, Wyoming and many eastern states[3].
What does the Wood Frog eat?
Adults eat small invertebrates, mostly land-dwelling ones[15][16]. Tadpoles eat algae, plant tissue and tiny water organisms[15].
How big is a Wood Frog?
NatureServe gives a typical length of 8 cm (3 in)[17].
How long does a Wood Frog live?
The longest recorded lifespan in AnAge is 5 years[4]. This is a record, not a typical lifespan.

Facts and sources

  1. Wood Frog 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 Wood Frog: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Wood Frog as native in 34 US states and territories: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 5 years. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) is a amphibian in the family Ranidae, 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 estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe notes on trend for Wood Frog. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe state ranks for Wood Frog (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  11. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Wood Frog: Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Michigan, Vermont. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  12. Habitat types NatureServe records for Wood Frog: Forest - hardwood, Forest - conifer, Forest - mixed, Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - conifer, Woodland - mixed, Temporary pool, Herbaceous wetland, Scrub-shrub wetland, Forested wetland, Bog/fen, Riparian,... NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for Wood Frog. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NPSpecies park lists recording Wood Frog as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  15. NatureServe notes on food for Wood Frog. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  17. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 8 cm (3 in). NatureServe Explorer
  18. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 900. AnAge
  19. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 912 days (about 2.5 years). AnAge
  20. NatureServe migration category for Wood Frog: local migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  21. NatureServe notes on phenology for Wood Frog. NatureServe Explorer
  22. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Hibernates/aestivates, Circadian, Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  23. NatureServe notes on migration for Wood Frog. NatureServe Explorer
  24. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Wood Frog. NatureServe Explorer
  25. GBIF observation records of Wood Frog in the US by month (chart on this page). 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.