Friday 22 October 2021

🐸Moving the froggies

 🐸UPDATE: Saturday, Nov. 13, I found #46 and the girls took it down for me.

UPDATE: Frog #39, Thursday, Nov. 10, while I was stacking wood. Also, 6 more, after Nutmeg found one = 45 total moved to better winter hibernation spots. 

UPDATE: I moved another frog Nov. 9th, that makes 38!  

I made four trips down to the wetland last week to deliver a total of 18 frogs. I had recovered enough by Oct. 19th to go frogging again. I captured 3 in the morning, 5 in the afternoon. 

The water is getting colder ( C., which is air temperature this morning), and the freeze/thaws of Climate Change doesn't bode well for my froggies. They get trapped under a layer of ice, and then it thaws. They rise to the top and freeze overnight. It's a horrid thing to see.

That makes 26 froggies I've trucked down to the wetland, which is wetter than it has been. We had another dump of rain overnight. (15 mm or 3/4 ")


 


I counted them, there were 7 still visible. I gave up for the day, though. They are getting a bit wary and hide when I just approach. It's a good challenge for an old girl!

Oct. 20th – I moved 5 more in the morning = 31 froggies moved from the goldfish pond to the wetland.

Then there was the toe biter incident. I couldn't believe it. Toe biters prey on frogs, you see. Here is one from 2014 in the process of sucking on its prey. [I did not scream like a girl!] I released this froggie, back in the day. 


"It has a penetrating semi-retractable proboscis. Think of it as sort of a mosquito way of feeding. It has digestive enzymes... seizes prey in its arms like a praying mantis would.... then jabs its pointy bit into the prey.. and slurps out the goop like a spider."



The little twerp was accidentally captured in the net with the frog. It is amazing it didn't get the goldfish. I didn't want it to stay in the bucket with the frogs. I put my hand under it and whooshed it out onto the ground. Picking it up in the net, I took it down to the wetland with the frogs.


After lunch, 5 more froggies. This time Cinnamon helped me. That makes 36 froggies. My buddy came with me. What a wonderful days it has been. It's about to get cold, though. Here he is running to keep up with me. (He gets distracted!)


I wandered outside, again, and found one more frog. To save my foot, JB took it down to the wetland for me, I was done for the day. That means 37 frogs we've moved.


Oct. 21st I noticed two small frogs, but that is it for a few days. 
Fortunately, my foot brace arrived, and I could put my foot up! It's not cheap, but it really helps my tenosynovitis, which I developed in 2011. Ah, ain't old age grand?!

Autumn continues to unfold. The magnolia has gone to seed. It's amazing from flower to fruit to seed pods.

The milkweed have gone to seed. I shall anticipate them for next year, as well as the monarchs!

We still have some colour, although they are falling fast. Soon I'll have to go up the ladder and clear out the eavestrough.


18 comments:

Tom said...

...I love to see the milkweed go to seed.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
Those are some mighty lucky frogs! YAM xx

Kathy G said...

Your frogging sounds like a real adventure.

Karen said...

my porch is white this morning, and it isn't frost

Out To Pasture said...

Excellent report, Jennifer! I'll never look at those big water bugs the same way again!

Anvilcloud said...

You are so diligent and pretty energetic despite some physical difficulties.

Lorrie said...

I've never heard of toe biters. Gruesome! Lucky frogs to have you nearby!

The Padre said...

What A Post - Rather Enjoyable - Enjoy Your Weekend

Cheers

RedPat said...

You are the frog whisperer! And savior.

Nancy J said...

You need a young handyman to do the frogs and the what we call gutterings. No fun to be up a ladder, but those autumn leaves seem to accumulate there. Hugh once did it, now we pay the plumber to scale the ladder,a friend to mow the lawn, a friend to do an hour of housework twice a week, and another to do the heavy gardening. It all makes sense to keep the money circulating locally!!!

Gaelyn said...

You are amazing, and so is your helper(s). I too love the silky milkweed, grew up with it.

William Kendall said...

Beautiful fall colours.

Red said...

Awesome new header

DrumMajor said...

Presuming you're over 50, PLEASE, please hire someone to get on a ladder to clean the gutters! LOVE your froggie-saving adventures! That's closer to the ground, even if it's wet. Linda in flat, dry Kansas

Cloudia said...

Wonderful Autumn days great what you're doing for the frogs. Now put your foot up and relax

Jeanie said...

This is fascinating about the frogs and moving them back into the wetlands. That's a LOT of frogs! And that brace looks like it will be very helpful. I hope all feels better soon. (And please hire the gutters. That's tricky work.)

Kay said...

Good gosh! I've never heard of toe biters. They sound AWFUL! I looked it up online and it says their bite is very painful. Yuuuck!

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

Totally jealous of your vaccination numbers. Ours are still dismal. I know several people who have died of it. All of them "trusted their immune system" I don't even know what that means.