Despite its name, the Barking Treefrog doesn’t have fur or fetch sticks — but it does have a bark! This large, bold treefrog gets its name from its distinctive “barking” call, which echoes through warm southern nights. It’s the largest native treefrog in the southeastern U.S., and it’s as charming to look at as it is to listen to. With its plump body and vibrant coloring, the Barking Treefrog is a crowd favorite for nature lovers lucky enough to spot one.
Size & Physical Appearance
The Barking Treefrog is one of the beefiest treefrogs in North America. Adults typically range from 2 to 2.75 inches long, but their round, muscular build makes them look even bigger. They have somewhat warty skin — which is unusual for a treefrog — and it gives them a bumpy, textured appearance.
Color-wise, they’re pretty variable. Most are bright green with dark, irregular round spots on their back, but they can shift to tan, brown, or dull green depending on temperature, light, and stress. This color-shifting ability helps them blend into different environments, from leafy branches to rough tree bark.
Males and females look similar, though males typically have a darker throat and a bit more muscle mass during breeding season thanks to all that singing.
Habitat and Range
Barking Treefrogs are native to the southeastern United States. Their range includes parts of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
They prefer sandy pinewood forests, cypress ponds, and wetlands, especially areas with fish-free seasonal ponds for breeding. You’ll often find them perched high in trees during the day and venturing down at night to call, hunt, or soak in the humidity. They’re also known to burrow underground during especially hot or dry weather, which is unusual behavior for a treefrog.
Diet
In the wild, Barking Treefrogs are opportunistic insectivores. That means they’ll eat just about any bug they can catch. Their diet includes:
- Crickets
- Moths
- Beetles
- Flies
- Spiders
Their strong hind legs give them quick leaps and stealthy strikes during hunting, especially under the cover of darkness.
Lifespan
In the wild, Barking Treefrogs typically live around 5 to 7 years. In captivity — with proper care — they’ve been known to live well over 8 years, sometimes even longer. Like most amphibians, their lifespan can vary a lot based on habitat quality, food availability, and disease exposure (chytrid fungus being a major threat to many frog species).
Identification Tips
Barking Treefrogs can sometimes be confused with other green treefrogs, like the Green Treefrog (Hyla cinerea) or the Pine Woods Treefrog (Dryophytes femoralis).
Here’s how to tell them apart:
- Size: Barking Treefrogs are noticeably larger and rounder than most other southeastern treefrogs.
- Spotted back: Their back is typically covered with dark spots, which Green Treefrogs lack.
- Bumpy, warty skin: Most treefrogs have smooth skin, but Barking Treefrogs have a bumpy texture.
- Call: If you’re hearing a low, repetitive “womp, womp” that sounds a little like a dog barking from far away, it’s probably this guy.
Fun Fact
The Barking Treefrog can change color based on its environment and mood. This isn’t quite chameleon-level camouflage, but it helps them stay concealed from predators — and keeps observers guessing! You might see the same frog looking bright green in the morning and muddy brown by evening.
Another neat behavior? They’ll often burrow into sand during dry or cold periods, using their strong back legs like shovels. Not many treefrogs do that!
Wrap-Up
Whether you’re listening for their bark-like calls on a humid summer night or catching a glimpse of their chubby green bodies among the branches, the Barking Treefrog stands out as one of the southeastern U.S.’s most charismatic amphibians. Their big personalities and loud voices make them a favorite for frog enthusiasts and backyard naturalists alike.
If you’re in one of their home states and near a seasonal wetland, keep your ears open — you just might hear one calling before you ever see it.