🐸The water is getting colder (4˚ 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 in the shallow goldfish pond, and then it thaws. They rise to the top and freeze overnight. It's a horrid thing to see.
Oct. 11 a.m. – 7 frogs moved
Oct. 11 p.m. – 7
Oct. 12 p.m. – 13
Oct. 13 p.m. – 5 = 32
Oct. 14 p.m. – 3
Oct. 18 p.m. – 5
Oct. 19 p.m. – 3 = 43
Oct. 21 a.m. – 10
Oct. 21 p.m. – 12 = 65
Oct. 23 p.m. – 1
Oct. 25 a.m. – 12 = 78
Oct. 25 p.m. – 8 = 86
Oct. 26 – 12 = 98
Oct. 27 – 19 + 7 = 124
Oct. 28 a.m. – 13 = 137
Nov. 16th p.m. – 4 = 141
Nov. 19th a.m. – 3 = 144
Grand total 64!
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 (4˚ 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?!
🐸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.
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.
The little twerp toe biter 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?!
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.
Thursday, Nov. 10 – while I was stacking wood I found one. Also, 6 more, after Nutmeg found one , moved to better winter hibernation spots. #45
Saturday, Nov. 13, – I found #46 and the girls took it down for me.
Nov. 24 – We've got 2 cm ice on the goldfish pond. I spotted 19 frogs. I figured if I moved the rock, they wouldn't come up beside it. I managed to move 4. Later, I found another 5. Yet later, another 2! = #57
Nov. 26 – I moved another 7 to just off the dock. Grand total 64! Popped them into the frog pond off the dock.
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