Pickerel Frog Hops into Nashville

Percy Warner Park is home to frog that’s never been found in Nashville before. Scientists say it’s a good sign of the park’s health.

Pickerel Frog (Image: Metro Parks)

The Pickerel Frog fits in the palm of your hand. It’s brown and has spots similar to what you would see on a giraffe. The male of the species has another unique feature—a mating call that sounds like low-pitch snoring.

Pickerel Frogs are common in East Tennessee. There are also big populations in Cheatham and Robertson counties. Kim Bailey is a naturalist at Percy Warner Park. She says the frogs likely their hopped their way to Nashville.

“I think they just traveled. They were on the move and moved into Davidson County.”

Frogs have porous skin, which means they’re easily susceptible to pollution. Bailey says their presence signals a healthy ecosystem.

The Pickerel joins about seven other species of frog found at Percy Warner Park. Read more about Tennessee frogs (and hear the Pickerel’s mating call) here.