West Virginia Frogs and Toads: Pictures & ID Guide

Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.

On this page

All 15 frogs and toads
Lookalikes
When they are active
How to report
About this list
Sources

WVDNR: West Virginia is home to 15 species of frogs and toads.

This page lists 15 species: all from WVDNR's Amphibians & Reptiles.

All 15 frogs and toads

From A to Z.

American Bullfrog

Lithobates catesbeianus

Not stated

Venom

No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.

Size

Usually 6 to 8 inches long (NCWRC); can reach 8 inches or more and weigh over 2 pounds (CDFW). Missouri gives 3.5 to 6 inches snout to vent, occasionally to 8.75.

How to recognize it

No ridge (dorsolateral fold) down each side of the back
Large round eardrum: about twice the eye in males, about eye-sized in females
Fully webbed hind feet, longest toe extends past the webbing

Full American Bullfrog guide

No confirmed photo of Blanchard’s Cricket Frog

Blanchard’s Cricket Frog

Acris blanchardi

Not stated

Venom: No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Conservation: WV State Wildlife Action Plan species of greatest conservation need; state rank SH; Priority 1 (2015 list)

No confirmed photo of Cope’s Gray Treefrog

Cope’s Gray Treefrog

Hyla chrysoscelis

Not stated

Venom: No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.

No confirmed photo of Eastern American Toad

Eastern American Toad

Anaxyrus a. americanus

Not stated

Venom: No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.

No confirmed photo of Eastern Cricket Frog

Eastern Cricket Frog

Acris crepitans

Not stated

Venom: No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Conservation: WV State Wildlife Action Plan species of greatest conservation need; state rank S2; Priority 1 (2015 list)

Eastern Spadefoot

Scaphiopus holbrookii

Not stated

Venom: No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Conservation: WV State Wildlife Action Plan species of greatest conservation need; state rank S1; Priority 1 (2015 list)

Fowler’s Toad

Anaxyrus fowleri

Not stated

Venom

No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.

Size

2 to 3 inches long (Alabama: 2 to 4 inches).

How to recognize it

Three or more warts in each of the large dark spots on the back (the American toad has fewer)
The ridge behind each eye (cranial crest) touches the parotoid gland, with no gap
A pale stripe usually runs down the middle of the back

Conservation

WV State Wildlife Action Plan species of greatest conservation need; state rank S5 (2015 list)

Full Fowler’s Toad guide

Gray Treefrog

Hyla versicolor

Not stated

Venom

No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.

Size

Small: body usually 1¼ to 2½ inches long (snout to vent); Tennessee gives 1.25 to 2 inches.

How to recognize it

Large white or gray spot below each eye
Warty (granular) skin and sticky pads on fingers and toes
Bright orange or golden yellow on the underside of each hind leg, shown as a flash color

Full Gray Treefrog guide

Green Frog

Lithobates clamitans

Not stated

Venom: No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.

40 records by month.

No confirmed photo of Mountain Chorus Frog

Mountain Chorus Frog

Pseudacris brachyphona

Not stated

Venom: No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Conservation: WV State Wildlife Action Plan species of greatest conservation need; state rank S4 (2015 list)

Northern Leopard Frog

Lithobates pipiens

Not stated

Venom: No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Conservation: WV State Wildlife Action Plan species of greatest conservation need; state rank S1; Priority 1 (2015 list)

Pickerel Frog

Lithobates palustris

Not stated

Venom

No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.

Size

About 1.75 to 3 inches long; large females reach about 3.5 inches. Males are smaller than females.

How to recognize it

Two rows of square or rectangular dark spots down the back between two light ridges (dorsolateral folds); spots sometimes merge into bars
Bright yellow or orange on the hidden inner surfaces of the hind legs and groin
No white spot on the eardrum (tympanum), unlike the southern leopard frog

Full Pickerel Frog guide

Spring Peeper

Pseudacris crucifer

Not stated

Venom

No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.

Size

Adults 3/4 to 1 1/4 inches snout to vent, occasionally to 1 1/2 inches; males are smaller than females.

How to recognize it

Clear, high-pitched peep about once per second; a chorus can sound like small jingle bells
Adhesive pads on the tips of fingers and toes
Some individuals have little to no markings

39 records by month.

Full Spring Peeper guide

No confirmed photo of Upland Chorus Frog

Upland Chorus Frog

Pseudacris feriarum

Not stated

Venom: No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Conservation: WV State Wildlife Action Plan species of greatest conservation need; state rank S3; Priority 1 (2015 list)

Wood Frog

Lithobates sylvaticus

Not stated

Venom

No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.

Size

Adults 1.5 to 2.75 inches snout to vent, occasionally to 3.5 inches; females are larger than males.

How to recognize it

Dark eye mask: SREL calls it the only frog in the Southeast with such a facial pattern
Distinct ridge of skin (dorsolateral fold) down each side of the back to the groin
Call: a rapid, hoarse 'waaaduck' like a quacking duck, repeated three or four times

31 records by month.

Full Wood Frog guide

Frogs and Toads people confuse

Fowler's toad or Eastern spadefoot?

Fowler's toad Not stated

Eastern spadefoot Not stated

The eastern spadefoot has no cranial crest and has vertical pupils.

Spring Peeper or Mountain Chorus Frog?

Spring Peeper Not stated

No confirmed photo of Mountain Chorus Frog

Mountain Chorus Frog Not stated

Ohio: two dark, curved stripes on the back like reversed parentheses, which on some frogs form a crude X or H (so it is easily confused with the spring peeper); it usually has a dark triangle between the eyes and a white line on the upper lip.

Spring Peeper or Gray Treefrog?

Spring Peeper Not stated

Gray Treefrog Not stated

Maine IF&W lists the spring peeper's distinguishing characteristics: Maine's smallest frog (about 0.8 to 1.5 inches), grayish- or orangish-brown above with a distinct dark X on the back, and smooth skin; it notes it is commonly confused with the gray treefrog.

American Bullfrog or Green Frog (Bronze Frog)?

American Bullfrog Not stated

Green Frog (Bronze Frog) Not stated

Bullfrogs lack the dorsolateral ridges that green frogs have.

Wood frog or Green frog (young; including bronze color form)?

Wood frog Not stated

Green frog (young; including bronze color form) Not stated

MDC: young green frogs can be similar in color but lack the dark brown mask through each eye.

Photos show typical adults; individuals vary. Never get close to compare.

When frogs and toads are active in West Virginia

Records of frogs and toads in West Virginia peak in April, June and August to September. They show when people record frogs and toads, not how many there are (about month bars).

333 records of frogs and toads in West Virginia by month (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records).

How to report

Report wildlife violations to any WVDNR district office or (844) 484-7367. Report sick or dead wildlife to a local district office. For nuisance wildlife, consult a WVDNR biologist or Natural Resources Police Officer, or hire a licensed Wildlife Damage Control Agent. For pest questions, WVDA Plant Industries Division: (304) 558-2212. No dedicated WVDNR invasive-species sighting line was found. WVDNR

About this list

The species list comes from Amphibians & Reptiles (Species Accounts: Frogs and Toads) (West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR), WordPress modified 2026-04-20).

Venom labels come only from official sources and link to them; "Not stated" never means harmless. How labels work.

Want a paper copy? Print the West Virginia frogs and toads ID chart.

Sources

Wildlife Diseases in West Virginia. West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR). WordPress modified 2026-06-25; checked November 3, 2026.
Amphibians & Reptiles. West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR). WordPress modified 2026-04-20; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“West Virginia is home to 15 species of frogs and toads.”
West Virginia Reptile and Amphibian Regulations (summary). West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR). 05/2023; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Citizens may report violations to any DNR district office or call (844) 484-7367.”
GBIF.org occurrence records, human observations licensed CC0 1.0 or CC BY 4.0 only, accessed November 3, 2026. The datasets behind these counts are listed on our Sources page.