If you venture near a pond or marsh at the height of summer, one of the first things you notice will almost inevitably be the croaking of the local frogs. All around the world, the mating calls of frogs are a classic sign of summer, and that is just as true here in Davidson as it is anywhere else. If you live near a pond, or have a slow-moving creek in a forest near your house, it is worth your time to go out and look for frogs—this is a very enjoyable and easy way to reintegrate yourself with nature.
We are fortunate enough to be home to a number of frog species, ranging from the American bullfrog (the largest frog in North America), to the tiny spring peeper, the leopard frog, the American toad, and many, many others. Tree frogs, such as the spring peeper and the gray tree frog, have sticky pads on their toes that they use to cling to the trunks of trees, while true frogs (the group that bullfrogs and leopard frogs belong to) have webbed feet. Toads, which are actually a type of frog, have un-webbed feet and long toes; they spend most of their time on land.
Unfortunately for those of us who enjoy frog-watching, frogs all over the world seem to be declining dramatically, and there are a number of reasons for this. Whether they are bullfrogs, toads, or tree frogs, all frogs require water to reproduce. During their tadpole phase, frogs live completely underwater, and as such are vulnerable to water-borne pollutants. If the water in which a tadpole matured is too polluted, it will either die or grow into a sterile, mutated frog.
An even more serious threat to frogs is the fungus infection known as Chytridomycosis (say it: KIT-rid-O-my-CO-sis). This fungus, originally from the tropics but now spreading around the world thanks to global warming, is responsible for the extinction of many frog species and the rate at which they die out continues to grow higher and higher. Chytridomycosis kills its victims by clogging up the pores in their skin, making it impossible for them to breathe.
Chytridomycosis is currently at its most severe in the tropics, but it is traveling farther and farther north every year, and many frogs are beginning to feel the consequences. As the fungus thrives in warm conditions, the rising temperatures caused by global warming may give it a venue by which to expand its range and infect frogs in various parts of the world. It is for this reason that frogs are considered to be one of the flagship animal groups of the modern environmental movement.
For some frogs, however, it is too late. The golden toad and the gastric-brooding frog are just two that are believed to be extinct due to climate change and fungus infection. Many of the frogs with which we are familiar here may join them soon.
With such a grim outlook, is there anything that a typical Davidson citizen can do to help protect frogs? The answer, surprisingly, is yes. One thing that is within the grasp of the private citizen is to build a pond in your yard. There is no guarantee, of course, that your pond will attract frogs immediately. If it does, however, you will find that they will return every year, like birds, to lay their eggs in it.
Another thing to do—especially if you have young children– is to make “toad houses”. Toads spend more time on land than frogs do, and like to take shelter under rocks, logs, and other heavy objects. Use old jars, flowerpots, or anything that catches your eye, and decorate it to your heart’s content, then set it out upside-down in you garden so that toads will come and stay.
You probably won’t be able to cure Chytrid fungus, or singlehandedly stop the habitat destruction that threatens so many frogs around the world. But by making your yard more frog-friendly, you can provide your local frogs a safe haven from these hazards.
To learn how to make a pond, visit: http://www.loudounwildlife.org/HHFrogPond.htm