23 July 2015: Observed a pair of Southern Leopard Frogs (Lithobates sphenocephalus) sitting astride a fast disappearing pool of water at Elm Fork Park, Denton County, Texas (located on FM 455 between Pilot Point and Sanger). I noticed over the past few weeks since it stopped raining and the heat index climbed that these Southern Leopard Frogs have been following the receding waters of the little arroyo which adjoins the Elm Fork Trinity River not more than 100 yards away. The itinerant waterhole was actually filled with Southern Leopard Frogs but most except for these two jumped into the tall grass upon seeing our approach. They were perched on the muddy shore of the waterhole under the shady cover provided by the tall grass. The occasional passing clouds overhead periodically shaded the sun and provided additional cover for this particular colony of Southern Leopard Frogs. In the fast drying waterhole a couple of small fish were starting to run out of oxygen and go belly up. The frogs will likely follow the disappearing moisture to the edge of the nearby river since they have no other choice during the hot summer season. The problem is likely that there are far more numerous predators in the river than in the little arroyo whose moisture they've been claiming and clinging to until now since the rains stopped falling more or less back in mid-June.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) administers Elm Fork Park.