Muddy Paws Marsh near Spring Mills was the site of the third annual Frog Festival on June 8.
The Frog Festival attracted about 100 visitors who traveled between several learning stations on the premises, to learn about different facets of the marshland ecology. Special guests for the event were Jim Julian, an instructor of biology at the Altoona Campus of Penn State University, Jerod Skebo, a biologist from the Shavers Creek Environmental Center and herpetologist Carla Hess.
The event, sponsored by the Penn State Master Gardeners, is free and open the public. The marsh is owned by Greg and Mary Kay Williams, who also own and operate the Cooke Tavern Bed & Breakfast, and the Cooke Tavern Soups Company, adjacent to the marsh along state Route 45 in Penn Hall.
Decades ago, the marsh area had drains installed, and was used as a pasture area. When the Williams bought the property, they removed the drains, returning the marsh to its natural state and opened it to the public.
Julian brought many tadpoles with him to show to festival attendees. He showed tadpoles of the tiny Spring Peeper, and played a recording of the Peeper’s call on his iPod.
“They’re about the size of your thumb,” said Julian. “And when you get them in a chorus of thousands, you can hear then from at least half a mile away.”
He noted that Peepers breed in shallow seasonal ponds which dry up during summer because those ponds do not have fish in them which would feed on the tiny Peeper tadpoles.
Julian presented larger tadpoles from several of Pennsylvania’s 14 or so frog species, and described their life cycles, breeding habits and other facets of amphibian life.
“Some of these frogs can live to be 20 years old,” said Julian.
Molly Sturniolo, representing the Penn State Master Gardeners, described their pollinator-friendly garden program. Local gardeners can have their home gardens certified as pollinator friendly. She noted that bees and other pollinators are in trouble as their environments are disappearing. Gardeners can help them by having certain types of plants (nectar food sources), providing shelter, water, removing invasive plants, and minimizing the use of pesticides.
“It’s very important to have native plants. Native plants are the best plants to fortify the pollinators, especially native bees in our area,” said Sturniolo.
She said her office has lists of recommended plants and information on the certification process available for gardeners.
For more information, visit ento.psu.edu/pollinators by clicking HERE.
