clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by mikeygraz 5 Omaha, NE (My Page) on Fri, Jul 11, 08 at 15:43 PervinPatty - Obviously you didn't do YOUR research on this subject. You undoubtedly got your information from the following website: www.californiaherps.com This is an excellent resource, and I know some of the people who have put that whole thing together. You obviously didn't look at the species list closely enough, as you will see that the southern leopard frog (Rana utricularia) is an INTRODUCED species - that means it is not native and doesn't belong there! While northern leopard frogs once had a few spots in northerneastern California where they were present, it is likely that they are EXTIRPATED (that means they are gone) from the state now, as it also says on that site and if you actually took the time to read scientific journals (as I do) you'll see that repeated efforts to find relict populations have failed. Also, you'll notice that northern leopard frogs never ranged into Central california, where you say you live...so again, that goes back to my saying you shouldn't be bringing in nonnative or nonlocal species. Obviously you didn't read my original post - do you really think that a northern leopard frog (or leopard toad, as you put it, haha) with its origins in North Carolina would survive in your region? I doubt it...not to mention the fact that it is ILLEGAL. You tried using the word "indigenous" as well - you have to use that word with some measure of scale - there are lots of anurans indigenous to California - but how about YOUR LOCAL area? I guess by your rules, you could take a Couch's spadefoot toad from extreme southeastern CA and put it in your pond...because its indigenous to California, right? Or maybe a Green Treefrog (Hyla cinerea), because they are indigenous to the United State, and they sure are pretty! Again, do your research, and if you're too lazy to go find some construction sites or golf courses nearby you, then tough luck. Don't get pissy at me for advising and educating you about the problems that could be caused by your actions. ~Mike An old post but worth repeating!

Sink items the frog can wedge under (overturned clay flower pots, 2' sections of plastic corrugated drainage pipe weighted down with a brick or two. Stuff like that. They do like the folds in liners but they need to go to a fold that is deep where the water does not freeze, not a fold that is just under the surface. The folds near the surface in my pond are taped shut, but that was not that hard as I have a rectangular pond with a grand total of 4 folds (one big one in each corner). A bunch of nooks and crannies near the surface might not be great if they are selected by the frogs. I thought Webfeeet said frogs 'breathe' through their skin when resting on the bottom of ponds and don't bury themselves, and in fact, if nothing is down there they will just sink to the bottom. Since they have no air in their lungs they won't float so it makes sense. I'm thinking they like to wedge in places is so they can be hidden and it is safer from being dislodged by currents or whatnot in their natural environment. They don't know the pond is not natural. A 500 gallon per hour pump mounted just under the surface of the pond will keep open water. I would not put it in an area you can't reach however. If you loose power you might want a generator on hand. BTW - fish like those short sections of pipe as well is those large clay strawberry pots sitting on their sides on the bottom, but if you use one hand-sand the edges of all the holes as they are sharp.

I have sort of teh same issue. Our Green Frog and the little fella she brought to the pond laid eggs early June. They turned into tadpoles, but the Goldfish and their insatiable appetite ate every one. She then went with the male to the kiddy pool where we had duckweed and pond plants being held and laid more eggs, but these were laid mid to late July. We now have oodles and oodles of tadpoles and it is doubtful they will turn before colder weather gets here. I tried to dipnet some to the other side of the pond while the GF were busy across working on pellets, but there are always GF all over and they must have alerted the others because not a one tadpole is left. I have no way of overwintering Green Frog Tadpoles and would really like to put them in the pond now while they still have the cover of the roots of the Water Hyacinth and Water Lettuce....but I know they will be devoured by the GF! Such a Deal!! Cyndi

I'm no expert on the matter, but frogs and toads do not hibernate the same. Are you sure you have frogs? Toads can bury themselves in the ground to overwinter, whereas this frog needs deep, non-freezing water to hibernate. Both, of course, need a source of still water for breeding. As far as I know, there are no ponds large enough to sustain a breeding population in this neighborhood. This one must have hopped quite a distance to get to my place. Here's to hoping he can find his (or her :) way back.