attacks on frogs: |
Author | Message |
airlines Member Joined: 17 Sep 2003 No. of posts: 1 View other posts by airlines |
Posted: 17 Sep 2003 This morning I found three adult frogs dead on the lawn (in different areas) near to our larger pond. They appear to have been killed by a blow to the head with a single puncture wound visible on two of them. There has been no attempt to eat the frogs. There have been similar attacks throughout the summer but involving single as opposed to multiple victims. Earlier in the year I have seen our blackbirds attacking this years juvenile frogs. Can anyone shed any light on this and suggest the likely culprit and anything we can to do to prevent a recurrence of this behaviour? alex |
GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 17 Sep 2003 It is likely that a domestic cat is causing the deaths. Though could be a fox or dog. I have seen similar fatalities characterised by puncture wounds at a pond frequented by a large number of dog walkers. There are devices that use high pitch sound inaudible to humans for keeping domestic pets away from gardens, these have proven effective at protecting amphibians. Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
AJfr0ggy Member Joined: 08 Aug 2003 No. of posts: 28 View other posts by AJfr0ggy |
Posted: 18 Sep 2003 Those things give me headaches, i can just slightly hear them! Im not sure on other ways to protect them, maybe if you provide more cover for the frogs. AJfr0ggy |
dave n dogs Member Joined: 17 Jan 2004 No. of posts: 13 View other posts by dave n dogs |
Posted: 18 Jan 2004 Hiya airlines, I reside in a terraced area of town, lots of cats, dogs, amphibians. My initial thoughts on your fatalities would be those blackbirds. They do take froglets. Several people have brought injured frogs to my door, most of wich are the result of cats. Can you post again, more info on the physical size of said frogs and any other visible injury? with sympathy dave n dogs |
Baby Sue Senior Member Joined: 19 Feb 2008 No. of posts: 412 View other posts by Baby Sue |
Posted: 22 Feb 2008 Oh no! I never knew pussy cats played with frogs! I've seen plenty of cats around when the frogs and toads are migrating but I ain't never seen one attack one. I hope I don't ever too. I wanted presents from lots of you. Snot fair that Ben Rigsby was the only one to send me Xmas & birthday presents. |
Vicar Senior Member Joined: 02 Sep 2004 No. of posts: 1181 View other posts by Vicar |
Posted: 23 Feb 2008 Every night I do a 'toad patrol' around the garden to see what's moving. Our cat always comes along with me, and its gotten to the ridiculous point where the cat will come in to get me if she sees a frog in the garden ! She's never harmed an amphibian (but then she is the most useless feline hunter on the planet!). She's only interested in some of the smaller frogs, which she sometimes taps lightly to see them jump. I'm under no illusions and realise that other cats would readily attack amphibians. "Wooster" - I use this picture a lot when talking about the domestic cat as a predator. She was actually meowing with excitement because she'd seen I was in the garden and was running over to greet me Steve Langham - Chairman Surrey Amphibian & Reptile Group (SARG). |
Baby Sue Senior Member Joined: 19 Feb 2008 No. of posts: 412 View other posts by Baby Sue |
Posted: 25 Feb 2008 If that were my pussy I wouldn't be able to resist trimming the sticky-out fur on top of her ears. I wanted presents from lots of you. Snot fair that Ben Rigsby was the only one to send me Xmas & birthday presents. |
Vicar Senior Member Joined: 02 Sep 2004 No. of posts: 1181 View other posts by Vicar |
Posted: 25 Feb 2008 Must.........resist...........Any...........Mrs Slocombe-style...........comments Steve Langham - Chairman Surrey Amphibian & Reptile Group (SARG). |
armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts by armata |
Posted: 08 May 2008 Baby sue you are hilarious, love you lots Has anyone thought about magpies re those dead frogs?? 'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
Baby Sue Senior Member Joined: 19 Feb 2008 No. of posts: 412 View other posts by Baby Sue |
Posted: 09 May 2008 [QUOTE=armata]Baby sue you are hilarious, love you lots [/QUOTE]Hey thatÆs your second declaration of your love towards me! Yay! YouÆve got a nice head.
IÆve seen a magpie take interest in a road-kill toad - but it didnÆt peck at it, it picked it up in itÆs beak and flew away with it. I wanted presents from lots of you. Snot fair that Ben Rigsby was the only one to send me Xmas & birthday presents. |
- attacks on frogs |