Frogs in Illinois in April

Yes, April is one of the best months to see frogs in Illinois. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 4,421 of the 29,185 sightings logged across the year (15.1%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Blanchard's Cricket Frog photographed in IllinoisWood Frog photographed in IllinoisAmerican Bullfrog photographed in Illinois
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for frogs in Illinois

15.1%

of yearly sightings

4,421

records in April

#3

busiest month of 12

29,185

verified records a year

March 6.2%, April 15.1%, May 18.3%. Busiest month is May at 18.3%.

Best months: May, June, April

29,185 verified observations of frogs in Illinois, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When frogs are recorded in Illinois

Peak month

May

5,342 records (18.3% of the year)

Quietest month

January

53 records

MonthObservationsShare
January530.2%
February3031%
March1,8036.2%
Aprilpeak4,42115.1%
Maypeak5,34218.3%
Junepeak4,58415.7%
July3,59912.3%
August3,24711.1%
September3,13310.7%
October2,3668.1%
November2580.9%
December760.3%

Frogs you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
American Toad6,738
American Bullfrog4,770
Green Frog2,562
Blanchard's Cricket Frog2,560
Northern Leopard Frog1,676
Fowler's Toad1,318
Southern Leopard Frog1,237
Gray Treefrog1,134

In Illinois, April carries 15.1% of the year's frogs sightings, about 6.8 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 3rd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is rising from March (6.2%) into April, and it heads toward May (18.3%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so April is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The frogs most often recorded in Illinois are American Toad, American Bullfrog and Green Frog. Those counts are annual totals rather than a April split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in April itself.

Which frogs you are most likely to see

  • American Toad6,738 records
  • American Bullfrog4,770 records
  • Green Frog2,562 records
  • Blanchard's Cricket Frog2,560 records
  • Northern Leopard Frog1,676 records
  • Fowler's Toad1,318 records
Plan your tripLewis & Clark National Historic Trail

Plan your frog trip in Illinois

Start with live tours near Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Gear to see them

Frequently asked questions

Can you see frogs in Illinois in April?+

Yes. April accounts for 4,421 of the 29,185 verified frogs sightings logged in Illinois across the year, which is 15.1% of the annual total.

Is April a good time to see frogs in Illinois?+

April is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of May, June and April.

What month is best for frogs in Illinois?+

May is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through May, June and April, based on 29,185 verified observations.

Which frogs are you most likely to see in Illinois?+

The most-recorded species in Illinois are American Toad, American Bullfrog and Green Frog, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.