Rescued frog off the sidewalk in NYC need help with ID and info

[cmerry]

Hello! We found a frog last night on the sidewalk on the Lower East Side in NYC. Bullfrog?
He/she was nowhere near water or even a garden area. It's fine right now with us. I'd like to see what kind of frog it is and whether it can be released safely to a pond area (Prospect Park has nice big ones that I have heard frogs near) but I don't know if this frog is the kind of species that lives here or an abandoned pet. If you could let me know what would be best for this guy/gal I'd appreciate it. Greensleeves (yes it has a name now! ) would appreciate it too! If it can't be released here we'll keep it as a pet or find a responsible person who would like Greensleeves as a pet. froggy is safe.

[Gnag the nameless]

I can tell just by the photo that that is a Green frog (Rana Clamitan), not a Bullfrog (Rana Catesbeiana) because of the coloration, ridges down his back, and the color and shape of its snout. His large Eardrum (Typanum) also suggests he is a male but I cannot be sure from this angle.

Their care is extremely similar if not the same as that of an American Bullfrog (Rana Catesbeiana) or a Northern Leopard Frog (Rana Pipiens). Here's a good caresheet for him:

Frog Forum - Leopard Frog Care - Rana pipiens (Schreber, 1782) and R. sphenocephala (1886)

As for your question, I'm not sure whether he is native to your area or not but I do know that Green Frogs are Native to certain areas of North America, so it is very likely he is Native to yours. However, we'll need to do some research on that.

You could keep him if you want, but you'd need at least a 30 Gallon tank for him, preferably a 55 Gallon. I would go with a half land half water setup (with dechlorinated water and a strong filter), and I would try to make it look like the edge of a pond, using medium sized smooth pond stones (too large to be eaten) for substrate. Having an Aquarium Background on the back, preferably of a Forest or Pond, would reduce stress and make him feel more at home.

However, if you want to release him, I'd make sure he is not an Invasive species first, and keep in mind that frogs never lose their hunting instinct, so if you've kept him in captivity for an extended period of time, it will not affect his changes of survival greatly. Of course, he may have contracted something in captivity and thus I lean on the side of keeping the frog, but the choice is entirely yours.

Hope everything turns out well, and keep us updated.

[cmerry]

I can tell just by the photo that that is a Green frog (Rana Clamitan), not a Bullfrog (Rana Catesbeiana) because of the coloration, ridges down his back, and the color and shape of its snout. His large Eardrum (Typanum) also suggests he is a male but I cannot be sure from this angle..

THANK YOU! He has only been with us overnight so hopefully not too stressed yet. I just wanted to have an expert truly ID him and not just friend's guesses so thank you again! I would like to release him at the Turtle Pond in Central Park (looked up ponds in NYC and this seemed safer because no one would be allowed to try to catch them here like they would in Prospect Park, well who knows, but seems less risky to him here) Turtle Pond in Central Park and I have been doing some reading and see that Leopard and Bullfrogs are common to this area and I will do some more research on all of this before letting him go. I love him he is so beautiful but I think he'd be happier out in a natural setting.
I'll let you know what happens!

[Truffs1178]

Definitely Rana Clamitans.
I would also say male.

[cmerry]

THANK YOU! Feels good to know for sure!

[Mentat]

Hello and welcome to FF! Please do check your state's laws in regards to releasing frogs back into the wild. Some states have strict laws and people can't even release a locally caught frog after a period of captivity that could be as short as several days. The issue at hand is protecting local frogs from foreign pathogens their immunity system is not prepared to deal with. Good luck !

[Bombina Bob]

Darn it! i was just making my post and then when i posted, i saw this thread was already answered!

[cmerry]

I'm having some trouble finding a site with specific details on the release issue. I see hunting laws on them gross articles about eating them, but nothing saying what the release laws are. What does that mean to you, just because does this mean there are no laws in NYC for this? I just want him to be happy.

[flybyferns]

Hi,
If you want to release him.
Do it ASAP..... as this frog will need to hibernate.
This frog is aquatic and will need water

Sadly , someone may have captured him and released him onto the street ?
It is difficult to know how long he may have been in 'captivity' ?

If he has been in captivity a long time ( ie all of his life ?) releasing him is not a good idea.

You are in a pickle . Sorry

[cmerry]

He was just with us overnight and we are going to release him tomorrow. If he had stayed on the sidewalk someone mean might have gotten him, he might have been hit by a car, etc.
btw he is fine for now in a safe enclosure with water and a dry space and stuff to eat.

[cmerry]

[herpdoc]

there are actually some decent sized populations of green frogs in NYC parks. they probably have less natural predators than their more rural brethren.