Quieting invasive coquí frogs to hear the heartbeat of Waimānalo

The calls of coquí frogs resound through the forest of Waimānalo, echoing off the nearby valley walls.

Amid this chorus, Ryan Chang’s ears have honed in on a single frog, croaking somewhere in the broad leaves of a small octopus tree. He turns off his headlamp and whistles to coax the frog out of its hiding spot.

Chang can make a nearly perfect impression of the coquí’s distinctive call, a loud koh-kee from which the frog gets its name. But this frog isn’t buying it…

Story continues

TRENDING NOW

LATEST LOCAL NEWS