Disappearing Leopard Frogs

A southern leopard frog in our backyard pond.As it lifted out of the backyard its voice identified it. Waaawk. Waaaaawk. Waaaaawk. A flapping of “wooshing” wings. Black crowned night heron. It had been startled away from the edge of our little goldfish and frog pond by one of our dogs. Knowing that the dogs are proficient at deterring marauding raccoons, I had been wondering for more than a month where the occasional goldfish had disappeared to and why our resident population of Florida leopard frogs, Rana s. sphenocephala, had dwindled to near zero. At least one of the reasons, the nocturnal one, became instantly clear. The solution was equally clear. By nightfall Patti and I had stretched “bird netting” over the little pond. Although this could easily be torn asunder by raccoons, we hoped that the dogs would continue to keep them away. And if the netting would deter a bird the size and weight of a night heron… It would, it did, and it has continued to do so. If only all problems were this easily solved.

A southern leopard frog tadpole.

Our southern leopard frog population seems more relaxed now that the night herons have been banished.