Frog Lake

A rainy day found us roaming around Frog Lake in Mt. Hood National Forest, looking for cool amphibians. It was a good day to look for them because we nearly had this popular spot to ourselves in the rain, but the amphibians didn't mind it one bit. We definitely hit the jackpot!  There were a bazillion tadpoles to be found, and even some adult frogs. Jasper caught maybe 50 tadpoles with just one swipe of a fish net because they were clustered so thickly together. He admired their beauty and let them go.  Afterwards I discovered that the frogs and tadpoles alike aren't frogs at all- they are Western toads!  We watched an osprey catching fish and found some lazy newts hanging out on the warmer edges of the lake. 

A cluster of tadpoles.

Western toad.

The remains of a blue crawdad- a raccoon snack?

Setting tadpoles free.

Tiny Western toad.

Violets.

Rough-skinned newts.