Why We’re Called The Blue Frog
In the Highway 4 corridor and in other parts of the Sierra there are three known species of native frogs: Family Ranidae, Genus Rana. They are the California Red-legged Frog, Mountain Yellow-legged Frog, and Foothill Yellow-legged Frog ranging in size from 5 inches to 2.75 inches respectively. All of these frogs are currently either listed as threatened, species of concern or great concern. What this means is: these frogs are disappearing. What isn’t listed, and what has disappeared is a little known subspecies called the Neon Blue-legged Frog. This little fellow, barely two inches long, had, at the turn of the 20th century been spotted in the Arnold area jumping around at night and leaving a blue trail behind. At first it was thought the frog had a tail and therefore, wasn’t a frog at all. Upon keen observation of a captured frog, it was determined that nodules on the Blue Frog’s hind legs emitted a glow when it leaped. And in fact, this was one of the highest jumping frogs anyone had seen! Well, the sad story is that with introduction of the non-native Bullfrog, the Neon Blue Frog disappeared—eaten by its larger alien relative. Decades later, however, it was noticed that some Bullfrogs had a slightly blue cast and were of some of the best jumping Bullfrogs in Calaveras County. So we named the restaurant, La Rana Azul or The Blue Frog in the little fellow’s memory, and because we knew this restaurant would be jumping with the best Mexican food in Calaveras County. If you would like to celebrate the Blue Frog’s memory, you may want to order a Blue Frog adult beverage. And who knows, after a few, you, too, may see blue neon lights floating by.
 Storyteller Sunny