We have a bullfrog in our pond. We can hear him croak from time to time. Not the deep bass “Jug o’ rum! Jug o’ rum!” that a mature bullfrog makes. But a nice fat croak. I think this bull frog was a late developing tadpole from a half dozen bullfrog tadpoles we bought about a year ago. Most of the tadpoles became frogs quickly, then seemed to vanish, but “Billy Bull” hung in there and now dominates our little goldfish pond. Interesting creatures, I’ve learned this about bullfrogs.
They are the largest species of frogs in North America sometimes weighing as much as 3 pounds. Their skin is smooth and olive green with dark, mottled patterns on their sides and bellies, but their colors may vary with the habitat. Our bullfrog is dark green on top and bright green beneath the jaw.
Though they may hop around searching for food, bullfrogs require aquatic habitat. They prefer ponds, lakes and slow-moving streams and they like warm weather. When it turns cold, they dig down into the mud to hibernate.
Unlike many other frog species, bullfrogs can flourish in waters where fish are found because bullfrog tadpoles are apparently toxic or distasteful to fish and other predators. A bass won’t eat them. They also have large muscular tails that can help them evade potential predators.
Bullfrogs eat literally anything they can get in their mouths including birds, large fish, and even small snakes. But it has to be alive and moving. They won’t attack until they see movement. Like a good fisherman, they are patient to a fault and will sit and wait and let the food come to them.
Most of our past bullfrogs have moved on as they have grown larger. I hope Billy Bull will stick around for at least a few more midnight serenades.