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32 Best Places to Find All Types of Frogs

I love looking for frogs, may that have been in our big backyard as a kid, or in the wild as an adult. Finding and observing frogs is a lot of fun no matter where you find them. I have many years of experience finding frogs and I am excited to share my tips with you in this article.

You can find frogs in your backyard, garden or in the wild. Aquatic frogs can be found in permanent sources of freshwater such as ponds, marshes and bogs. Toads can be found on land in humid areas like under rocks, vegetation or in soil, and tree frogs can be found near ponds in trees.

This article covers everything you need to find all three types of frogs: aquatic, terrestrial (toads) and arboreal (tree) frogs in your yard or in the wild. We will also provide some quick tips on how to find a lost frog in your home, just in case one snuck in and you cannot find it. Let’s dive in!

1. How to Find Aquatic Frogs

Aquatic frogs can be found in permanent sources of freshwater such as ponds, marshes and bogs. Aquatic frogs live in water and generally have long legs, webbed toes and are powerful swimmers that require a constant source of freshwater to survive and thrive.

Aquatic Frog Sitting in a Marsh

If you are looking for frogs that live in water and do not have a pond, slow-moving stream or steady source of water in your backyard, you will probably have to go look for them in the wild. 

Here are places you can find aquatic frogs, and tips to help you spot them:

Where to Find Aquatic Frogs

  1. Look Near The Shore of a Lake 
  2. Search The Banks of Shallow Ponds
  3. Look For Frogs in a Slow Creek or Brook
  4. Check The Pools of a Bog or Fen
  5. Go to a Marsh, Swamp, Bog or Bayou

Tips to Find Aquatic Frogs

  1. Avoid Temporary Bodies of Water
  2. Avoid Areas in Full Sun
  3. Avoid Fast-Paced Water
  4. Do Not Look in Salt Water
  5. Avoid Polluted Water

I love looking for aquatic frogs in the early Spring and during the Summer. It’s easy to spot them when they have their nose sticking out, just above the waterline. If you walk up to a pond too fast, they may all jump away and hide under vegetation, so go slowly and be patient. Some of the bold frogs will hang around and look back at you 🙂

Get more detail on each of these tips to find aquatic frogs in this article on our blog.

2. How to Find Terrestrial Frogs (Toads)

Toads are terrestrial frogs and can generally be found on land, unless it is mating season when they return to the source of water where they were born to reproduce. Toads generally hide under rocks, in vegetation or underground during the day, and are active at night when they eat nocturnal bugs.

Baby Toad Sitting on a Rock

Toads can be very easy to find in your backyard if you live in an area that has a suitable environment for them. Toads are often found in urban areas because of the presence of bugs, humidity and shelter. Toads live on land and can generally be found underground during the day. 

Here are places you can find toads, and tips to help you spot them:

Where to Find Toads

  1. You Can Find Toads on Moist Land
  2. Search For Toads Under Piles of Leaves
  3. Look For Toads Under Plastic Structures
  4. Find Toads in Basement Window Wells
  5. Check For Toads In And Under Planters
  6. Open The Garbage to Find Toads
  7. You May Find Toads Near Your Compost Bin
  8. Search For Toads in Rock Structures
  9. Look For Toads in Tall Grass
  10. Have a Look For Toads Near Trees & Bushes
  11. Carefully Lift Branches & Rocks to Find Toads
  12. Check The Mud in The Garden For Toads

Tips to Find Toads

  1. Look For Toads At Night
  2. Do Not Dig Up Toads During Hibernation

I used to have a pet toad in my backyard that I kept as a wild pet toad. I learned so much about toads while observing him as a child. For example, I learned what toads eat, and how they hibernate

It’s really important not to disturb toads once hibernation season starts if you are located in Canada, the USA or Europe where they hibernate during the Winter. Toads may also estivate in other parts of the world during Dry seasons. Let toads naturally hibernate or estivate, and let them emerge on their own. Do not dig up toads (CTNF).

Get more detail on each of these tips to find toads in this article on our blog.

3. How to Find Arboreal Frogs

Tree frogs are arboreal frogs that spend most of their time on or near trees. Tree frogs have padded toes, are excellent at climbing, and require a steady source of freshwater to survive. They can generally be found in forested ponds, marshes or bogs. 

Spring Peeper (Tree Frog) Calling During Mating Season

Tree frogs may be a bit more difficult to spot depending on the type of frog you are looking for and the time of year. Tree frogs are generally easier to find in the Spring when the males call females. Since some tree frogs can be very loud (like Spring Peeper) this can give away their location fairly easily. 

Here are places you can find tree frogs, and tips to help you spot them:

Where to Find Tree Frogs

  1. Look For Tree Frogs Near a Source of Water
  2. Look For A Shiny Bump in Trees
  3. Look For Tree Frogs at The Base of Trees
  4. Look For Tree Frogs on Leaves
  5. Look For Tree Frogs Under Leaf Litter
  6. Listen And Look For Tree Frogs Chirping
Do You Hear Crickets in Spring? May not be crickets...

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Tips to Find Tree Frogs

  1. Look For Tree Frogs at Night
  2. Look For Tree Frogs During Mating Season

I think one of the easiest ways to spot tree frogs is to look for something shiny either at the base of a tree or on the branches. Like all living things, tree frogs need water to survive but their skin remains moist and shiny. Looking for something wet and shiny on a branch up in a tree during a dry day is an easy way to spot one sitting there.

Get more detail on each of these tips to find tree frogs in this article on our blog.

Bonus: How to Find A Lost Frog in Your Home

A lost frog in your home will generally be in a warm, damp place like the bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, or basement. You can attract the frog to a specific location in your home by putting damp paper towels down on the floor and checking them periodically.

How to Find a Lost Frog in Your House!

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So if you lost a frog in your house you should check the following places:

  • Bathroom: In the toilet, sink, bathtub, near the shower drain
  • Kitchen: Under the fridge, dishwasher, sink
  • Laundry Room: Under the washer or dryer, in wet laundry
  • Basement: Under moist carpets, damp rugs, near pooling water

Get more detail on each of these tips to find a lost frog in this article on our blog.

More About Finding Frogs

This article provides my top quick tips about finding frogs in your yard or in the wild, but you may want even more information on each of these tips. Well, good news! We have dedicated guides for each type of frog you may be interested in finding! 

Click on the links below for more detailed info and photos to help you find frogs:

Common Questions About Finding Frogs

Where is the best place to find a frog? The best place to find a frog is in the wild in locations with permanent sources of calm freshwater such as ponds, marshes or bogs. Generally, such locations can attract aquatic, terrestrial and arboreal frogs.

Where do you release a frog? You should release frogs under 100 meters or 330 feet from where you found it. Do not relocate frogs to another part of town, across a road, and do not kill them as it could be illegal or cause them harm.

How can I see a frog? You can see a frog by searching for them in nature or in your yard. Aquatic frogs are generally found in freshwater such as ponds. Toads are often found in urban yards and gardens because of the presence of shelter, humidity and bugs. Tree frogs are also common in forested areas with ponds.

Where can I find frogs in my yard? You can generally find toads in your yard in window wells, in the garden, or under rocks. If you have a pond in your yard with very calm water, it may attract aquatic frogs under the vegetation. And if there are trees around the pond, there may also be tree frogs in the trees near the pond.

What months do frogs come out? Frogs are generally active from March to September in Canada, the USA, and in North Western Europe but hibernate during Winter. Frogs are active during Monsoon or Rain season in other parts of the world, and estivate during the Dry season. Frogs are active all year round in the Amazon Rainforest. 

What attracts Frogs to your house? Frogs may be attracted to your home if there is humidity, water, bugs and shelter for them to hide from predators during the day. A leaky hose, pool, pond, garbage, compost, sprinklers or tall grass can attract frogs and toads to your home.

Source

This article is written based on many years of personal experience finding and observing frogs, enjoy 🙂

Daniella Master Herpetologist

Daniella is a Master Herpetologist and the founder of toadsnfrogs.com, a website dedicated to educating the general population on frogs by meeting them where they are in their online Google Search. Daniella is passionate about frogs and put her digital marketing skills and teaching experience to good use by creating these helpful resources to encourage better education, understanding, and care for frogs.