Frogs in South Dakota: identification guide and best places to start

Where are people most likely to notice frogs in South Dakota?

Look for frogs near permanent water sources. Eastern South Dakota has the most frog activity around prairie potholes and cattail marshes. In the Black Hills, check spring-fed creeks and beaver ponds. The Missouri River backwaters also hold good numbers of leopard frogs and chorus frogs. During breeding season, males call from shallow water edges, making them easier to locate.

What season or weather patterns help with frog spotting?

Frogs are most active from late April through early August. Warm, humid evenings after a rain are ideal for hearing and seeing them. Daytime spotting works best on overcast days or near shaded water. In early spring, listen for the first chorus frogs calling when ice melts. Summer heat pushes frogs into cooler water, so focus on dawn and dusk.

See our Frogs guide for the next step.

What simple ID cues separate South Dakota’s frogs from lookalikes?

Start with size and dorsal ridges. Northern leopard frogs have two distinct light-coloured ridges down the back and a spotted pattern. Boreal chorus frogs are small (under 1.5 inches) with three dark stripes. American bullfrogs are large, plain green, and lack ridges. Plains spadefoot toads have vertical pupils and a sharp spade on each hind foot. Listen to calls: chorus frogs sound like a finger running over a comb; bullfrogs make a deep 'jug-o-rum'.

See our state animal guide for the next step.

What’s the best way to find frogs in the Black Hills?

Focus on slow moving streams and beaver ponds in Custer State Park and around Spearfish Canyon. Northern leopard frogs and wood frogs are common here. Use a flashlight at night to spot eye shine. Turn off all lights for a few minutes first, then scan the water edge. Tread lightly; frogs sense vibrations.

How do I tell apart leopard frogs and pickerel frogs?

Pickerel frogs are rare in South Dakota but possible in the extreme east. They have square blotches in two rows, while leopard frogs have circular spots scattered evenly. Also, pickerel frogs produce a toxic skin secretion that can irritate wounds, so avoid handling them. Leopard frogs are more widespread.