It's Amphibian Time!

Wood frog pair mating; note eggs released by female.

Late winter and early spring are prime times for amphibian breeding. Wood frogs, spotted salamanders, Jefferson salamanders, spring peepers, toads, pickerel frogs and other amphibians are now mating in temporary wetlands called vernal pools and similar habitats around Northern Virginia. If you have a small pond on your property and are near sources of amphibian, you might attract some of these critters to use it for mating and egg laying. If you want amphibians, though, you can't have fish because the fish will eat amphibian eggs and larvae.

Spotted salamander.