Mississippi’s American Bullfrog takes center stage this Wildlife Wednesday

Spring and summer evenings in Mississippi are filled with the deep, booming calls of the American bullfrog, which sounds like ‘jug-o-rum,’ according to wildlife experts.

As the largest frog in North America, bullfrogs can grow over 6 inches long and weigh more than a pound, says wildlife officials. They prefer permanent ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams, where males call from the water’s edge to attract mates and defend territory.

After eggs are laid, tadpoles hatch and may take a year or more to develop into adult frogs. These amphibians are opportunistic predators, feeding on insects, fish, other frogs, and anything they can swallow, wildlife officials added.

Fun facts from experts include that bullfrogs do not only hear with their ears. Their large circular eardrum, called a tympanum, helps amplify sound. On males, the tympanum is noticeably larger than the eye.

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