Well hello there Mr Frog!

This morning I did a double take and a quick 'stage left' when I found a frog in the kitchen sink, not because I am afraid or squeamish to such critters - this one was large and like no other frog I have ever seen before. It looked like a toad with bumps on its back and legs and the most peculiar dark markings on a brownish colored body. As soon as I went to pick him up I realised this was no toad, he felt like a tree frog and then I noticed the tips of his toes which is a sure fire indicator of 'tree frog'.

A few photos inside and quickly captured and relocated this guy to the front porch for more photographs.

The drain makes him look small, he was fairly big for a tree frog.

I found the Cuban Tree Frog and thought this was a match. I dug some more to be sure and found the Cope's Grey Tree Frog, feel very confident in this guy being a Cope's and not a Cuban .

When a new (as in not seen everyday or frequently), species makes its presence known to me I look to try and understand what their message is to me. The meaning of a tree frog (according to); Animal Spirit Guides. 

Frog's Wisdom Includes:

• Reminder of common bonds with all life
• Singer of songs that celebrate the most ancient watery beginnings
• Transformation
• Cleansing
• Understanding emotions
• Rebirth

More scientific information:

http://srelherp.uga.edu/anurans/hylchr.htm

Thank you Jonathan Slone of the University of Georgia!

Description: Gray Treefrogs are the fairly large tree frogs (1.25 - 2 in; 3.2 - 5.1 cm) with large toe pads and granular skin. They are heavier-bodied than Pine Woods or Squirrel Treefrogs, with which they can be confused. They vary in color from mottled gray to light green but their color can change depending on environment and activity. There is usually a light spot beneath eye and the inner thigh is bright yellow or orange when exposed.

Range and Habitat: Gray Treefrogs are found throughout the Southeast except for peninsular Florida including nearly all of SC and GA. This is the most common treefrog species in the Piedmont and Mountain regions of our area. They are found in a variety of wooded habitats but are most common in mature deciduous forest. Gray Treefrogs generally breed in fishless wetlands.

Habits: Gray Treefrogs spend much of the year high in trees and are most often encountered during the breeding season, when they call from vegetation surrounding wetlands. Breeding lasts from March to August, but calling is most intense in the early summer. Gray Treefrogs generally spend the day hiding in tree holes or other secluded areas and emerge at night to feed on insects and small invertebrates.

Call: Call is a musical trill.

Interesting Facts: Hyla chrysoscelis is morphologically indistinguishable from H. versicolor and two species are also sympatric throughout much of their ranges. Once thought to be single species, recent genetic work revealed H. chrysoscelis to be diploid and H. versicolor to be tetraploid. Two species are best distinguished by call; H. chrysoscelis has a faster trill than H. versicolor.

Safety Tip: This species of frog produces a toxic skin secretion that can cause extreme discomfort to the eyes, lips, mucus lining of the nose, or open cuts and abrasions. Careful hand washing is advised for anyone after handling gray treefrogs.

Conservation Status: Gray Treefrogs are common and not protected in our region.