During warm spring and summer nights, it’s not uncommon to hear chirps, trills, quacks, honks and other frog sounds coming from bodies of water close by. Nighttime is a privileged moment for frogs to be out croaking.
Frogs generally croak to attract mates of the same species in order to reproduce and do so at night due to the presence of less predators, darkness, and humidity. Frogs are especially active and croak at night during mating, wet or monsoon seasons.
Frogs make noise at night because the darkness provides them shelter, and many of their primary predators are inactive (birds, certain fish species).
Also, frogs breathe and drink through their skin, so the humid evening air provides a perfect environment for them to thrive.
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Let’s have a look and see if it really is frogs that you hear, why they are making so much noise, and what you can do about it so you can finally get a good night’s rest.
What do Frogs Sound Like at Night?
With over 7,500 different frog species spread out across the globe there are just as many unique frog calls. Male frogs make a unique call to attract female frogs of the same species at night. Therefore, what frogs sound like depends on the species.
Here are some common frog species and what they sound like:
| Frog Species | Call | What The Frog Sounds Like |
| Spring Peeper | Peep | Crickets in the Spring |
| Green Frog | Boog | Banjo being strung |
| Wood Frog | Hourah | Ducks quacking |
| American Bullfrog | Bmm | Deep cello strung |
| American Green Tree Frog | Bark | A very small dog barking |
| Leopard Frog | Gurr Haha | Door crack and a laughing sound |
| Gray Tree Frog | Riiing | Old phone ringing |
| Western Chorus Frog | Beee | Running your fingers over the teeth of a comb |
| Pickerel Frog | Brrrr | A creaking door opening |
| Black Rain Frog | Eeeee | A dog squeaky toy |
| Eastern Narrow-Mouthed Toad | Baaaa | A sheep or lamb |
If you live in eastern North America you probably hear Spring Peepers at night. They are among the first frogs out of hibernation, and they are also some of the loudest.
Spring Peeper can be so loud that they drown out other frog species calls and can be heard up to .5 mile or 1km from their location.
Learn more about what frog sound like on our blog
Why do Frogs Make Noise at Night?
The main reason why Frogs make noises at night is because male frogs try to attract female frogs of the same species in order to reproduce. The louder the frog, the more mates they could potentially attract.
Each frog species has a unique call that can be recognized by females of the same species.
Frogs can be so loud at night because they are trying to attract as many females to their location as possible in order to successfully reproduce.
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Frogs are generally active at night since their senses are well-suited to darkness, providing them cool evening humidity, and the presence of less predators.
When it’s not mating season, frogs are much quieter and tend to spend the night eating.
Frogs breathe and drink through their skin and avoid direct sunlight as much as possible.
The night cover provides the perfect environment for them to thrive and absorb humidity in the air through their skin.
Outside of mating season, frogs may also croak if they detect a predator, to defend their territory, while it rains, or just because they are happy.
But these calls may be made at any time of day if the conditions are correct.
Find out what frogs do at night on our blog
When do Frogs Stop Croaking at Night?
As a general rule, frogs stop croaking at the end of mating season, around sunrise at about 2 to 3 am, and when they go into hibernation or estivation.
Frogs often stop croaking after it rains, when a predator is around, harsh weather conditions, or the full moon.
Find out everything there is to know about when frogs stop croaking on our blog
So there is no need to fear, the frogs will not be loud and active all year long. You will probably hear them during a short period of time.
How to Stop Frogs From Croaking at Night
Still annoyed with noisy frogs at night?
No need to fear, there are a few things you can do to deal with loud frogs croaking while you are trying to get some shut eye.
- Encourage frogs to find a new home by making your property unsuitable for them
- Remove bodies of water including puddles
- Frog-proof and cover your pool (more pool tips here),
- Reduce or eliminate food sources
- Use natural frog repellents
But I get it, the croaking is annoying.
So let’s cover ways to stop frogs from croaking at night or ways of dealing with their calls.
Here is a quick video I made with some ideas on how to deal with loud frogs at night:
See a complete guide on how to stop for frogs from croaking at night on our blog
But I have a little story for you to help put these loud frog calls into perspective.
Common Coquí are invasive frogs in Colombia, Hawaii, and the Virgin Islands and are extremely loud – like way worse than Spring Peeper.
These frogs are so loud and invasive that they have a devastating economic and ecological impact on the locations where they were introduced, reaching nearly $3,000,000 USD per year.
These frogs can be found in population densities of more than 51,000 Coquí per hectare (CTNF).
When populations reach such densities, the frogs can consume over 300,000 invertebrates per night and call so loud that the value of real estate has diminished significantly in areas where they are present.
So unless you are dealing with high density populations of Common Coquí, there is no need to get frustrated over the frog calls. Just use these easy methods to deal with loud frog calls bothering your workflow or sleep.
