I believe I am one of a select few that has daily interactions with frogs. Last winter, we had three frogs. One large one, one small one and one teeny one. Cold weather appeared and the frogs disappeared, sinking as they do when the water cools to the bottom. They simply turn off their engines and hibernate. Early this spring, we had three frogs emerge. The same three, I’m sure. Today, we still have three frogs, though the big one has now assumed command in Nancy’s 35-gallon lily pond while the little guys find nooks and crannies in our goldfish pond. They seem to be doing fine except I believe our big bullfrog is lonely. He bellows out throughout the day, hoping to attract a mate. Unfortunately, I don’t think there are many around. The closest pond is about a mile, but you never know.
For good measure, we made a trip over to Springdale Gardens in Greenville a few weeks ago where Nancy bought a few water plants and I picked up three tadpoles for future bellowing.
Frogs are really interesting creatures. I always envisioned them as animals that stayed in ponds and eating bugs and critters as they flew by. But they really do more scavenging outside their water homes, mostly at night.
A few evenings ago – at dusk – we were sitting beside the pond and out springs the little one with a three-foot leap. He landed right between my feet and sat there a few minutes before hopping away into the flower beds hoping to find a few juicy bugs.
I do know that if it’s alive – and only if it’s alive – a frog will eat it if he can get it in his mouth and they have big mouths. I once saw one of our frogs eat a four-inch goldfish that swam in his way and we also saw a frog grab a finch by its wing before the bird could shake free,
They are fun to watch and to feed with mealworms. I hope my big frog lures in a mate and stays a while.
