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Frogs under threat at Carlton Marshes

IT really is a frog's life.

Cast at the bottom of the food chain as a tasty morsel for everything from fish to foxes, the web-footed ones are increasingly subject to a new human threat û killing by kindness.

As spring arrives and frogs begin the mating game, their gluelike progeny clogs up many a pond prompting houseproud gardeners, loathe to kill them, to dump them elsewhere.

Many are choosing to deposit the frog spawn in to the wild at sites such as Carlton Marshes.

But the marshes are a site of special scientific interest home to rare aquatic creatures and the deposits are doing more harm than good by exposing the creatures to the risk of the deadly "red leg" virus which causes their limbs to blister and their fingers and toes to rot.

Cat Finlayson, education officer at the marshes, said moving frog spawn increases the risk of spreading the disease and also contaminates the area with other non-native plants.

"We have this problem every year," she said. "People get worried because they think they are going to have too many frogs.

"But even if you have 1000 frog spawn you will only get five frogs which make it to adulthood."

She said that volunteers had already caught four people dumping frog spawn and warned that it is illegal to introduce them in wildlife sites and you could get a ú1000 fine.

"People have access to this site and they are just coming down and dumping it," she said. "We have stopped a few and they are doing what they think is best for the frogs.

"What happens when they dump stuff from their ponds is that they bring plants which shouldn't grow here and are quite invasive."

EASTERN DAILY PRESS (Norfolk, UK)

Vandals kill off frog colony by tipping oil in village pond

Vandals killed an entire colony of frogs in Radlett on Sunday when they poured oil into a village pond.

All of the frogs died, along with the frog spawn. The pond, at Fir Spring Wood, is now lifeless, and Aldenham Parish Council is still trying to work out how much it will cost to clean up.

Because of a contagious disease that is killing off other frogs in Britain, it will not be possible to bring new frogs into the pond for the foreseeable future. The vandals also threw seating logs that had been placed around the pond into the water.

Parish Clerk Carrie Dudziak said: "It was a nice area that has been ruined by a senseless act of vandalism."

Thieves also stole more than 50 polyanthus plants from Tykeside Gardens in Watling Street, possibly to be sold on for Mother's Day.

17:25 Wednesday 2nd April 2003

BOREHAMWOOD TIMES (UK)

France Declares War On American 'Invaders'

Financial Times, original by Jo Johnson, Paris, 3/22/03 Paris:

The French government is preparing a pre-emptive war against north American "terminator frogs" that have invaded south-western France and are believed to pose a serious risk to the country's diverse amphibian population.
Roselyne Bachelot, the environment minister, is preparing to eradicate the American bullfrog from Aquitaine, where it has spread since several were imported by an enthusiast in 1968 at the expense of indigenous frogs and toads.
American bullfrogs, classified as an invasive species, are highly adaptable predators. Adult males are aggressive and defend their territories, which can range from three to 25 metres of shoreline, by wrestling with others. Adults can reach 30cm-40cm in length and will eat almost anything they can get their jaws around.
Ecologists at Cistude nature, an environmental consultancy that has studied the alarming spread of bullfrogs, say France cannot afford to delay if it wishes to stop the damage being done to the ecosystem.
Bullfrogs do not just eat insects and worms, like smaller frogs. They feed on snakes, crustaceans, fish, as well as other frogs. There have also been cases of bullfrogs eating bats and small birds.
"They do incredible damage to the ecosystem," said Christophe Coic of Cistude. "They are so big that a mosquito is just not enough. That's just like a peanut to them, an aperitif. Eventually they will crowd out the frogs that eat mosquitoes, which will necessitate returning to harmful chemical treatments."
Analysis of the contents of the stomachs of 39 American bullfrogs found that other amphibians accounted for 39 per cent of the semi-digested matter, mostly traditional green frogs, while fish represented a further 34 per cent. Insect material accounted for 17 per cent.
Britain took rapid action to eliminate the invading North American frogs in 1999 after three ponds were found to be providing a rich breeding ground. Italy also acted promptly to deal with the web-footed invaders when they appeared in the Po valley.

http://search.ft.com/search/article.html?id=030322001177&query=invaders&vsc_appId=totalSearch&state=Form

The Frog Doctor Hot-Line: Offers Gardeners Advice On Frogs 

Conservationists have launched a new telephone advice service for gardeners to try to protect spawning frogs this spring. Severn Trent Water has set up a "hop-line", with its own frog doctor. Colin Green, environmental adviser at Severn Trent, said: "We have created it to encourage the public to understand the importance of frogs." The hop-line number is 0116 267 0150, and is open from 10.30am to 3pm.

Leicester Mercury News, UK 3/6/03

Will they do the hokey û croakey?

APPEAL TO CREATE A LOVE NEST FOR FROGS

People are being encouraged to create love nests in their back gardens. But they wonÆt be for the human brand of amour û these are for frolicking frogs during the mating season.

The London Wildlife Trust sent out the message during SundayÆs Frog Day at the Centre for Wildlife Gardening in Marsden Road, Peckham encouraging people to create ponds in their gardens for these amorous amphibians.

Centre spokeswoman Helen Firminger said: ôGarden wildlife watchers look forward to this time of year almost as much as the frogs do.ö

We get to watch numbers of frogs heading for mediumûsized garden ponds in order to find a mate.ö

But donÆt be fooled by the idea that behind every frog is a prince û because they are not the most faithful of creatures.

Ms Firminger explained: ôFrogs donÆt practise monogamy; they arenÆt into parental care.ö

But she said theyÆre also the gardenerÆs friend, eating snails and slugs.

By creating a pond, you are likely to attract a selection of other creatures including dragonflies and water boatmen.

For information on how to build a pond, call the Centre for Wildlife Gardening on 020-7252 9186.

Peter Harrison

South London Press March 4 2003

Ananova:

Lovestruck frogs have been provided with special ramps to help them cross a road on the way to their mating pond.

The ramps, normally used for wheelchair access, have been put down on a section of road at Shaldon, south Devon, where hundreds of the creatures have been on the move.

Local frog lover Norah Hook, who for years has been helping frogs during their mating ritual, persuaded Teignbridge council to lay the ramps to enable the creatures negotiate the kerbs.

"The frogs became disorientated when faced with the kerbs," said Mrs Hook, from Shaldon, who also persuaded the council to close part of the road during the mating season.

She estimated that over the past three weeks she had helped around 400 frogs across the road to their pond.

Story filed: 12:35 Wednesday 20th February 2002

Ananova:

Wildlife experts are warning of a threat to native British frogs and insects due to an influx of tropical terrapins.

Several sightings of unusual shelled reptiles, believed to be red-eared terrapins, have been made in the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal.

These have sparked concerns among conservationists fearful that the web-footed creatures, which feed on small aquatic animals, will gobble up the native breeds.

The Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust suspect they were bought as pets during the 1980s craze for the film and cartoon characters of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and have since been abandoned when the children lost interest.

Colin Studholme, head of conservation at Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, said: "I think they may be red-eared terrapins.

"We know that this breed was quite popular and all the rage in the late 80s when Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were around and parents bought them for the children.

"Children got bored of them and people released them into the wild. They are surviving surprisingly well considering they are not native but usually exist in tropical climes such as Africa and Asia.

"They eat frogs and insects and we would rather they were not there. If non-native species are introduced the whole set up is affected. We suggest they remain in captivity but if they do become unwanted pets they should be given to a pet shop or someone who wants one.

"No-one should put them back into the wild."

Story filed: 15:01 Monday 12th August 2002

Ananova:

Britain's wild animals are under threat from an invasion of giant frogs.

Volunteers are being asked to keep watch for the North American bullfrogs.

The frogs can grow up to 20cms in length and can eat small mammals, fish and birds.

Southern Water says its pond wardens are already helping with a slaughter programme.

A spokesman told color=#0000ffThe Daily Telegraph: "We are asking volunteers to be extra vigilant.

"Our pond wardens are already doing there utmost, but the more people who are aware of the danger, the better we will be able to control this slaughter.

"It is bad news for our wild animals if alien creatures like this are released into the wild."

The bullfrogs are banned from being imported into Britain. The newspaper says they have been breeding in the wild after escaping from captivity. Females can lay up to 20,000 eggs a year.

Story filed: 08:15 Friday 19th July 2002