We were walking behind our lovely Airbnb off Route 66 in Parks, AZ (to get away from three-digit temperatures)…

in a National forest…when Ava I noticed something hopping about. 

This lovely creature is the Arizona Treefrog!  

According to reptilesofaz.org, this is their call (audio file). We think it sounds like a bunch of muppets.

The Arizona Treefrog grows to 1.5 inches. They breed in mostly temporary waters, which I find strange because they look like they need a lot of water.

“In Arizona, Arizona Treefrogs have been found to feed on beetles, spiders, earthworms, flies, and bark beetles. They likely feed on a variety of other small invertebrates, as well.”  

reptilesofaz.org

This finding was a lucky one as they are nocturnal animals. However, it appears that their skin is toxic and holding them is not the best idea. Oops. Well, I didn’t feel any after effects. My family is doing a collective eye roll as I tell them this because I once caught this in a jar:

According to Sciencefriday.com, being stung by one of these is painful. Quite painful:

“The pain is so debilitating and excruciating that the victim is at risk of further injury by tripping in a hole or over an object in the path and then falling onto a cactus or into a barbed-wire fence.”

Aren’t you glad I passed this on to you? Now you’ll be extra careful when you try to catch one.