Found frog in my garden....don't know what to do with it!

Rainbowbright · #1 (**permalink**) 26-03-2008, 02:29 PM

First of all hello I'm new to this.
I have just found a rather large frog in my garden & unsure what to do with it for its own safety. I don't have a pond or anything like that, but I do own 2 young cats whom are very interested in it & I wouldn't trust my female cat around it. There is also quite alot of other cats around my area. I live in a built up residential area.

Any advice would be great. I have it in a safe area at the minute, should I leave it in the garden amongst potentional dangers ie cats, or should I move it to a nearby stream....I don't want to distress it.

Dogghound · #2 (**permalink**) 26-03-2008, 09:42 PM

If the cats are interested it could be a problem as they do kill frogs amoungst other things. The lack of a pond isnt a problem, i would suggest you relocate it to local woodland, wasteland, wetland etc. Pratically any habitat is ok apart from urban (unless you know anyone with a pond?) and coastal.

Cotham Marble · #3 (**permalink**) 26-03-2008, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rainbowbright

First of all hello I'm new to this.
I have just found a rather large frog in my garden & unsure what to do with it for its own safety. I don't have a pond or anything like that, but I do own 2 young cats whom are very interested in it & I wouldn't trust my female cat around it. There is also quite alot of other cats around my area. I live in a built up residential area.

Any advice would be great. I have it in a safe area at the minute, should I leave it in the garden amongst potentional dangers ie cats, or should I move it to a nearby stream....I don't want to distress it.

The cats are a problem - but.... your frog hasn't come out of nowhere and although it may seem surprising, it (and other frogs) are probably doing OK in your area. The UK common frog only needs a larger water source to breed and to live through the very worst cold weather. Other than that they live out of water feeding on worms, insects and slugs - in the latter case you might find a frog a good addition to your garden.

What you can do is provide some refuge spots and smaller water sources. For refuges - a roof tile propped up at one end, or a short piece of planking set on a couple of bricks, or even an upturned pot set so theres a smaller access on the margin, located against the garden fence or under a hedge or shrubs. For water, a couple of bowls dotted around and set into the soil, with a stone placed inside to allow smaller wildlife a route out to avoid drowning.

With cat proof refuges the frogs and cats will probably only encounter each other at night, so if you keep your cats in you may get a settled frog population.

CM

WithNature · #4 (**permalink**) 30-03-2008, 09:58 PM

Give it a kiss, you might get lucky!!!!

Digifrog · #5 (**permalink**) 31-03-2008, 10:40 AM

Please, please create a small pond in your garden for your amphibian visitors. They don't ask for much and we have taken so much away from them.

1 in 10 gardens in this country have a pond which is pitiful. I would like it to be 1 in 4.

Contrary to popular that frogs only need a pond for breeding, they also need a pond to remain cool and wet in the hot summer months, and a pond is a place of safety for them. If they ever get bothered by any cats they can retreat to the pond & relative safety.

There are frogs in my pond all year round so it goes to show how important a pond is.

If you are interested in creating a good environment for them (rocks, logs & long grass) then you can either ask here or Froglife can guide you on how to create a home for your frogs and newts.

If you have a garden space then set aside a small area for them. If you can spare 4 sq. m. then that would be great.

Scott

Dogghound · #6 (**permalink**) 01-04-2008, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digifrog

Contrary to popular that frogs only need a pond for breeding, they also need a pond to remain cool and wet in the hot summer months, and a pond is a place of safety for them. If they ever get bothered by any cats they can retreat to the pond & relative safety.

I agree everything you are saying, although frogs dont need a pond all year, damp undergrowth is more than enough, i often find frogs well away from water in the hottest months. An ideal frog garden would have a pond as well as a good undergrowth section.

vole-woman · #7 (**permalink**) 01-04-2008, 10:30 AM

Ponds are superb. I've had so much pleasure out of mine - there seems to be something new in it nearly every day over the milder months. The wildlife in your garden increases dramatically, too.

Lance Morgan · #8 (**permalink**) 01-04-2008, 10:51 AM

Likely froggy is on his or her way to its breeding pond. Put it somewhere where cats can't get at it and it will be OK

Rebeccauk · #9 (**permalink**) 21-03-2009, 02:52 PM

Hello,

I have found your website as I have a query similar to the above.

I live in London and have a small garden (more terrace and plant borders!). We found a frog in our garden this morning in a large plastic plant tray which is filled with rain water with another plastic pot stacked a bit over the top, and next to it some other plastic pots, some of them are filled with water, some are not that we left out over the winter months.

Don't get me wrong, I am delighted with our new garden guest (and as keen gardeners in what space we do have!) we have noticed a decline in slugs which can only be a good thing. However...how do we keep it alive and well? We have high garden walls (no idea how it got in the garden in the first place?) and live in quite a surburban area with lots of cats around. There only appears to be one frog (should there be more?). It seems to be hopping around happily, but can we do anything to make it comfortable? Should we take it somewhere a bit more 5 star hotel than our 2 star hotel garden?! We have no room to put in a pond unfortunately.

Thanks!

nasuse · #10 (**permalink**) 12-04-2009, 02:36 AM

Hello,
i do not live in the UK, but California. I have a pond in my backyard (about 8 feet long by four feet wide and 3 feet deep and tapers up). This is the first year I haven't cleaned it and have tadpoles, hundreds of them. I bought some blood worms to feed them. My main concern is my two cats. They love to hunt and they do come in at night around 11 until 6, are they a harm to the soon to be frogs?
How do frogs get into the yard anyway? I have a fenced in yard. What can I do to make them safe from my cats?
There is a fake rock in the middle that is safe from the cats. how about some lily pads? any other suggestions?
Thanks!
Susan