Many scientists believe the red-eyed tree frog developed its vivid scarlet peepers to shock predators into at least briefly questioning their meal choice.

These iconic rain-forest amphibians sleep by day stuck to leaf-bottoms with their eyes closed and body markings covered. When disturbed, they flash their bulging red eyes and reveal their huge, webbed orange feet and bright blue-and-yellow flanks. This technique, called startle coloration, may give a bird or snake pause, offering a precious instant for the frog to spring to safety.

Their neon-green bodies may play a similar role in thwarting predators. Many of the animals that eat red-eyed tree frogs are nocturnal hunters that use keen eyesight to find prey. The shocking colors of this frog may over-stimulate a predator's eyes, creating a confusing ghost image that remains behind as the frog jumps away.

Red-eyed tree frogs, despite their conspicuous coloration, are not venomous. They are found in tropical lowlands from southern Mexico, throughout Central America, and in northern South America. Nocturnal carnivores, they hide in the rain forest canopy and ambush crickets, flies, and moths with their long, sticky tongues.

Red-eyed tree frogs are not endangered. But their habitat is shrinking at an alarming rate, and their highly recognizable image is often used to promote the cause of saving the world's rain forests.

Regulations on pesticide disposal are significantly less strict in Central and South American than they are in the United States. In 2006, an article appeared in a nationally distributed news journal discussing the terrible and adverse effects on amphibians, such as tree frogs, in Central and South America due to the dumping of pesticides in natural ponds, streams and other small waterways. The frogs were being decimated.

After reading the article, Environmental Coalition Incorporated decided to 'adopt' Freddie as our mascot. Red eyed tree frogs are nature's version of integrated pest management experts. They do not use chemicals to kill, they are green (both figuratively and physically) and they don't do well with pesticides in their environment - all things that Environmental Coalition Incorporated stands for. We think she is a good fit and by the smile on her face, we think she would agree!