Have You Seen It? Frogs Take Over Cades Cove!
In the Great Smoky Mountains, the weather has changed drastically over the last couple of weeks. The upper elevations of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park experienced quite a few inches of snow last week, and this week the sun is shining and frogs in Cades Cove have started singing. Many people would agree that this is the first sign of spring in the Smokies. With the temperatures reaching nearly 60 degrees, it’s no surprise that frogs are thrilled to soak in unfrozen waters with warmth once again.
(See Related: Little Known History of Cades Cove)
The following video shows frogs in Cades Cove waking up to warmer weather. When you watch, you can hear the sounds of the Smokies, as if you were walking through the national park.
(Video courtesy of Jack Sharpe)
Frogs typically begin singing when the temperatures rise, or there is a change in their natural surroundings. In this case, the frogs began making noise as soon as the snow melted away.
Amphibians in the National Park
Frogs, toads and salamanders are the major groups of amphibians that can be found in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Throughout the mountains, adult frogs and toads live in multiple types of habitats. Each of the frogs in the national park breed in water and have an aquatic tadpole stage, according to the National Park Service.
Believe it or not, adult frogs are carnivorous creatures. They use their tongues to capture small insects. Tadpoles who are still in the aquatic stage of their lives will eat plants and algae, until they reach adulthood.
Smoky Mountain Weather
Obviously, frogs in the Great Smoky Mountains are a fan of the warmer weather. When you’re planning your vacation to Sevierville, Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg, make sure to take a look at our Weather page. Our meteorologist, Paul Poteet, keeps us informed with the upcoming forecasts.
Are you still searching for that perfect place to stay on vacation to the Smokies? Check out the ‘Where to Stay’ page filled with all of the best accommodations for your visit to the area.
