bhiatt
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2012
Posts: 1,532
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Post by bhiatt on Aug 17, 2013 12:52:13 GMT -5
I see toads at night all the time when it rains. When I was younger Id always mess with them. Try and feed them bugs.
I use to hang out at this old bar when I was around 21(now torn down) in little hick town and a guy brought in a 5 gallon bucket with bull frogs in it. I sh?t you not these frogs were so big they were stretched out in the bucket and their heads were at the top of the bucket. They were leaning on the inside of the bucket all stretched out. He said they came out onto the road(backroad) by his house at night when it rained. He'd sell them to the bar owner to eat. The frogs like going out on them warm wet roads at night.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller 
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Aug 17, 2013 13:10:03 GMT -5
I have been to that bar Brad. And there's a guy at the front door that issues a knife to everyone that enters. Oh, and made of concrete blocks...haha That's pretty funny.
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grizman
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since July 2011
Posts: 878
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Post by grizman on Aug 17, 2013 14:06:45 GMT -5
OK, here's a question for you amphibian experts. When I was young. (realllly...I was once!) I was told that it was not a good thing to handle the frogs and toads, no, not for warts but because the acid on our skin burned their sensitive skin and they did not like it. I'm now thinking that they probably didn't like being handled even if my hand moisture didn't burn their skin! So what's the truth here? Just a fable like getting worts?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2013 15:48:14 GMT -5
Having handled a couple hundred species of frogs and tens of thousands of specimens my answer to this question is this: If you will be handling amphibians wash your hands before and after doing so. Before to protect the frogs from sweat/oils/lotions..... After to protect you. Their wet skin would normally be a breeding ground for bacteria, so evolution has given them a myriad of natural antibiotics. They also have things that taste VERY bad in their skin for the predators with taste buds. I can assure this "skin cocktail" will be VERY unpleasant if you get it in your eyes. Like days worth of unpleasant. Please don't ask me why, it's embarrassing.  ohh... and DEET bug spray is instant death for amphibians. Like scary - instantly dead. Please don't ask me why, it's embarrassing. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Aug 17, 2013 18:07:08 GMT -5
Beautiful pictures  I love frogs. I so seldom get to see any anymore. Like Jean says, I saw them around so much more when I was younger. It's sad to see what is happening to them. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2013 18:37:19 GMT -5
I started a thread about introducing and nurturing frogs in your back yards. It is found here. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2013 18:42:03 GMT -5
Beautiful pictures I love frogs. I so seldom get to see any anymore. Like Jean says, I saw them around so much more when I was younger. It's sad to see what is happening to them. There is a couple of really good reasons for this. Neither is because frogs are rare. First, kids see lots of stuff because they explore their neighborhood finding streams and ponds. Adults rarely do this. Secondly, when we do go out into nature we aren't seeking the small stuff like frogs. Most folks are looking for fish (fisherman) birds (Audoboners) mammals (hunters) and the last group photographers do indeed still find frogs commonly. Google it if you want. Lastly, I still live 15 miles from by birth house. The little streams I visited as a child are still there and so are the frogs. But I only go there maybe every three years. So, I see frogs every three years. It's bahavioural, not a sign of population crashes. FWIW the orange groves where I caught my first snakes are gone. The snakes are still easily found, but I have to find new habitat. |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Aug 17, 2013 19:48:54 GMT -5
The big rivers near Atlanta are much cleaner that 20-30 years ago. Industrial pollution has been greatly reduced.
Silt, road run off, and fertilizer run off are now the pollutions causing issues. Lessor evils
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Post by rockjunquie on Aug 18, 2013 11:14:17 GMT -5
@shotgunner I agree about the frogs. However, toads used to be so prevalent that every morning there were dozens of dead toads on the roads. I have lived in this area off and on since 1977 and I have seen the toad population dwindle to near nothing. At dusk they used to come out for the bugs in droves. You just do not see that anymore. Frogs being more elusive may still be lurking. But, I have 2 young grandson's who have yet to come to me with a treasured little frog. They are probably around, but we just don't see them.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2013 12:06:54 GMT -5
Tela, try taking them to a creek, after sundown, during or after a rainfall. Better yet, try a golf course in the same conditions.
You should have myriad species.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Aug 18, 2013 12:41:34 GMT -5
If you give them a small habitat you will attract them. I put out about 300 7 gallon pots to grow lotus in each year. In a few weeks every one of them will have tadpoles. They do get around.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2013 14:50:16 GMT -5
Jim, that only works when you have a native population nearby. Those of us whom are suburbanites must go get them and re-introduce by providing new habitat.
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I love frogs. I so seldom get to see any anymore. Like Jean says, I saw them around so much more when I was younger. It's sad to see what is happening to them. 
