first time froglets

sproot · #1 (**permalink**) 10-07-2008, 11:40 AM

Hello,

I have had a small pond put in a few months ago and now have froglets emerging. They are hopping on the patio and 2 have got squashed as it is so hard to see them and I have 2 dogs. Should I move them to a flowerbed that is far from the pond? The pond is not near any flowerbeds, just next to a large deck and against a fence. Or should the froglets be near the pond.

Also when will it be safe to mow the lawn again, I daren't do it now as they are so tiny. Should I leave it for 2 weeks?

Thanks
Sproot

galanthus · #2 (**permalink**) 10-07-2008, 11:47 AM

The froglets need to be under cover to have a chance of survival so If I were you I'd forget the grass mowing for a while and they should make their way to your borders etc where they can shelter in cool dark areas. Patios are dangerous to froglets when they're hot as the froglets stick to them. Someone in another thread advised you put something on the stone so they won't stick. Try the water life section, it's there I think.

Welcome to Wab by the way and congrats on your first froglets, post some pics

djackso · #3 (**permalink**) 10-07-2008, 12:44 PM

I had large froglet mortality on my artificial stone:

Froglets in mortal danger from pond edging.

My froglets are moving away from the pond naturally - I soon decided there was no point putting them back in the pond - they had other ideas

I have created alternative habitats - see thread, but what they like best is grass - I'm always stepping on them on the lawn. I have long grass areas near the pond - some are in there - but they soon get though the hedge and onto the lawn again. I mowed it recently and the grass is short, but they love it - they are so little they are covered by even short grass.

In dry weather I try and ensure the bog garden and long grass areas are sprayed with water regularly - to give them somewhere to retreat to.

I know will accidentally step on one or two before before the year is out.

But what can you do - you can only do your best.

sproot · #4 (**permalink**) 10-07-2008, 03:10 PM

Thanks for for the advice Galanthus and Djackso. I thought that I should manually move them to the flower beds as the patio area is so large for them to cross before they could get to any flower beds. Unfortunately I havent any space or soil to plant grass around the pond. So do you think I should move them? Any advice on how long a time I shouldnt mow the lawn, Galanthus you said leave it for a while, what do you think weeks or months (yikes).
I read with interest the post suggested, and as far as I know the patio is real stone but does get very hot. I wish I had put my pond in a more grassy area but I didnt think about frogs and now Im very attached to the froglets! I just want to know whether Id be helping them by moving them and when I should mow the lawn without harming the little ones. Thanks again and thanks for the nice welcome.

djackso · #5 (**permalink**) 10-07-2008, 04:07 PM

If it was me, I WOULD definitely move them (be extra careful if you do - they are delicate).

Before I mowed my lawn l "swept" the area that I thought they'd be in with my hand - this made them visible - they hop like crazy to get away. They can be encouraged to go into the border by continuing this sweeping action to "herd" them that towards the edge of the lawn.

I don't think you can be expected to save them all. I wouldn't prolong mowing - I would imagine the accidental killing of a frog gets more gruesome the larger it has grown. And letting the grass grow will mean they all want to go into it!

coasty · #6 (**permalink**) 10-07-2008, 04:11 PM

I have just posted on a similar thread, I think you will find that once the wet weather stops and your lawn dries out then after a day or so you can cut it.

Sadly froglets always seem to suffer a high rate of mortality. If you move them you will find that after a wet warm night they will all spread around the garden again , Only thing that you can do is to provide natural cover plants etc and heaps of decaying wood in shady corners are excellent. The frogs will find them.

sproot · #7 (**permalink**) 10-07-2008, 04:47 PM

Thanks again djackso and coasty.Ok I will move them as I see them there are a lot under some real natural stones around the pond should I move these too? I have a log pile at the back of the garden so this sounds ideal. How long does it take for them to grow to a easily visible size? I was told that they only take 2 weeks to leave the pond and then the garden, this is a real learning experience!

Dogghound · #8 (**permalink**) 10-07-2008, 05:34 PM

I would leave the ones under the rocks and possibly place the others near the log pile. They will reach a larger size by the winter so will take them afew months to grow. Unfortunatly nothing in nature can be planned so forget the two weeks, it is dependant on habitat quality, amount of food, shelter, predators, competitors that will affect the dispersal of your frogs and this will vary with every pond every year, so its best not to plan and just keep checking some will stay in the garden most will spread around abit.

dampflippers · #9 (**permalink**) 10-07-2008, 08:18 PM

Too late now, and impossible anyway with the rain...but I think the idea is to anticipate them leaving the pond, and cut the grass as short as you can before they leave.
This means there is less grass to hide in, so they will not linger on the lawn.
...but we haven't mown ours for several weeks now, so there will be no hope when mine leave. (some have, but not all)

sproot · #10 (**permalink**) 11-07-2008, 01:03 PM

To mow or not to mow? that is the question.
Well I will check the lawn thoroughly and mow it this weekend, rain permitting (luckily its quite short). Most of the froglets are still in the pond and around or under the rocks near the pond and I won't move these ones. I have put plant cuttings around the pond to give them extra shade. I will move the ones I see on the patio. Thanks again for all the advice.