REBOUNDING FROGS
Rex Burress
While reading about Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs recovering from near extinction, it occurred to me how effective wildlife management can be when applied properly.
Most imbalances in nature are caused by social tinkering with wildlife habitats, and that affects the wild inhabitants that live there. It seems the frog downfall started when trout were stocked in Sierra lakes where Rana muscosa lives, and they were devoured by the hungry fish. Stocking fish there was stopped and the frogs rebounded. Pleasing sportsmen by introducing game species, even though fishermen and hunters provide funds for wildlife provisions, doesn't always work unless biologists keep close watch on wildlife populations.
One of the 21 true frog species in North America north of Mexico is the bullfrog, originally native east of the Rockies, but was introduced into western America during the early 1900's. Bullfrogs are quite common now in California, but are considered an invasive species because of their carnivorous predation on smaller native frogs; in fact, they will eat about any animal they can swallow. The big rumper, known for its bullhorn bellowing out of swampy haunts, is also a target for human leg-hunters. It's sad to say that there is a season to stalk frog's for their legs. Some food foragers consider frog legs delectable...at the expense of the beautiful upper body.
Kids especially, find frogs fascinating, and who hasn't been impressed with their leaping ability? Nature has many high-jumpers, including fleas, beach hoppers, grasshoppers, kangaroos, and kangaroo rats, but frogs are the greatest attraction. They are both loveable and scary. A harmless, leaping frog usually generates a variety of screams. A squirrel turned loose during church services is nothing compared with a big bullfrog ready to spring! Who would do such a thing; Tom Sawyer? To be smacked with a slimy blob propelled up to six feet is something to consider! Or you can just scream.
When I worked at Oakland Nature Center, we had a traveling show of animals we used in nature education, and once I had a giant bullfrog that I took along for classroom show and tell. I don't think 'sure-handed Rex' loss control, but the frog got loose in the schoolroom. Screams; I never saw anything like it! Panic led to panic and kids were standing on top of desks yelling their heads off, totally out of control...and loving it! No wonder the green monster was leaping around the room!
Harmless? Did I say harmless? Many frog species have poison glands that are able to secrete a toxin that can be an irritant, especially in toads. Being an amphibian means they must have a damp environment to keep their air-breathing/water absorbing skin moist. Down in South America there is a brightly colored poison-dart tree frog that has lethal toxins. Indians dip their arrows in the sticky substances to bring down a monkey immediately.
Some frogs have holding teeth, except toads have none, but I've never seen a frog bite someone. Even when the bullfrog is bellowing, they keep their mouth shut, depending on a ballooning throat pouch for amplification. But when they open to eat, a long sticky tongue is shot out to engulf the target.
Of course we know about the incredible metamorphic transformation from a watery tadpole to an adult frog. In an amazing sequence, a legless, algae-munching, gilled-larvae-polywog, advances to a tailess, moist-skinned amphibian with strong hind legs, carnivorous characteristics, and an adaptation to live on land. There are about 6, 679 species of frogs and toads in the world. Hallelujah!
“The frog does not drink up the pond in which it lives.”
--Indian Proverb
“Chico Teichert Pond lovers wear a button that says, “Save Teichert Ponds before I croak!,” with a vibrant green and smiling frog called 'Froggie' perched on a log on the waters of a pond half healthy, half overrun with cattails and algae.” --Ashiah Scharaga;Mercury-Register