Frogs are finally getting their due — and their own week of celebration — thanks to the efforts of an Indiana University of Pennsylvania graduate student. “Most tend to fear frogs and other creatures around them; frog week helps break this and bring attention to what is in our backyard,” said herpetologist AAaron Capouellez, who also serves as a PA Woods and Forests board member. Frog Week, which begins Monday, includes a project of videos created by Capouellez for PA Woods and Forests. The outreach and citizen science nonprofit organization focuses on the conservation of plants and animals including frogs, toads, carnivorous plants, invertebrates, lizards and snakes. The series of videos, filmed over the last seven months by Capouellez, focuses on wild populations of American toads, wood frogs, gray tree frogs and pickerel frogs and will be posted during the week. “I want to encourage and inspire the next generation of herpetologists (scientists who study reptiles and amphibians),” Capouellez said. “Also, to just bring frogs and toads into the conversation, as they are often overlooked for conservation funding.”

Photo Credit: Aaron Capouellez