In mid-May, temperatures in the UP rise to the point that amphibians, like this mink frog, emerge from hibernation. Mink frogs are a small, northern species, with blotchy green-brown backs and green lips. They are a declining species of ‘special concern’ in Michigan that rely on cold wetland habitats, such as this perennial spring on our homestead.  I’ve been observing them in this tiny pond for decades.