Frogs are fun and interesting creatures. Since they are found almost everywhere in the world, finding them can be a fun activity for camping or for children. Frogs tend to live in water, hidden under fallen branches or along riverbanks. You might get a little dirty, but finding a frog could be an exciting reward!
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Knowing Where to Look
Step 1. Make sure you are in the right environment
Except in the Antarctic (and in some of the coldest parts of the world, such as the northernmost parts of Siberia), frogs are found basically everywhere. In any case, they are more numerous in tropical regions.
There are about 4,740 species of frogs around the world. In the United States, for example, there are about 90 different species
Step 2. Look for frogs during the spring and summer
You have to do this in the right season and these animals are most active in the spring and summer, because that's the time they go for food and lay their eggs.
In the fall, frogs tend to seek shelter for the colder months, and in the winter they usually hide in a sheltered spot (such as under a log) or soak in the mud at the bottom of ponds
Step 3. Find an aquatic area
Frogs absorb water through their skin, so they need to live near water to avoid becoming dehydrated. The water must be still or not very moving and preferably must be in a protected place in some way.
Suitable places to look for frogs are swamps, watersheds or the banks of streams, lakes and ponds
Step 4. Check out potential food sources
When you go out looking for frogs, go to areas rich in insects, worms, fish and spiders. These are the types of food that frogs like.
Step 5. Go out at night
Frogs tend to be more active at night than during the day. At night they go out and go around looking for food and a mate to mate. They usually hide during the day and wait for the heat and sunlight to go away.
Be very careful if you go out looking for frogs at night, particularly if you go to more isolated areas. Bring a flashlight and survey the area during the day before going there at night so you can assess potential risks and problems
Step 6. Look for places that can serve as a hiding place
You don't want to scare frogs or harm them. Many species of frogs are rapidly becoming extinct due to habitat changes and humans. [Image: Find a Frog Step 6-j.webp
Search under fallen branches, in bushes, and under piles of leaves
Part 2 of 3: Catch the Frog
Step 1. Listen to the splashes in the water
When you approach an area where frogs live, they will most likely be alerted by your presence and will try to hide. They may jump into the water, letting you know that there are indeed frogs present.
However, not all splashes in the water are caused by frogs. It can also be fish or snakes, so be very careful
Step 2. Use a screen
The holes in the net need to be very small so that the frogs can't get their heads in. They could get hurt if a leg or head gets stuck in the net.
- Make sure the opening in the net is large enough to cover the frog. Otherwise you would risk hitting it in delicate areas with the edges of the screen.
- Avoid using butterfly nets to catch frogs. They are built for more delicate creatures and are too fragile to support a frog.
Step 3. Catch the frog with the net
When you have found the frog and decided you want to get it, you need to come up with a plan, based on whether the frog is on the ground or in the water. If it's on the ground, you'll need to cover it with the net. If it is in the water, you will need to place the net under the frog and pull it out of the water.
- If you've trapped the frog with the net on the ground, gently surround its back and legs with your hands. You have to grab it on the hips, with the paws pointing backwards. In this position you can lift it and place it on your hand while it is still in the net.
- If you take the frog out of the water, you will need to gently grab it on the hips, with the legs pointing backwards.
Step 4. Use your hands to catch the frog
Lower your hands without the frog noticing (i.e. slowly and quietly). Get a grip on the hips and hind legs so he can't escape.
Avoid squeezing the frog too tightly. You just have to keep her from running away, but without hurting her
Step 5. During the night, you can point the light on the frogs
Strong light during the night will cause the frog to lock up, making it easier for you to catch it. Using a flashlight will also help you locate frogs at night, as the beam of light will reflect in their eyes.
Step 6. Gently return the frog to its natural environment
Unless you have a hunting permit, you need to put the frog back where you found it. Some frogs are protected as endangered animals, so check the regulations in the area where you are.
If you want to keep a frog as a pet, it's best to buy one from a specialty pet store and raise it from the tadpole stage
Part 3 of 3: Attracting Frogs to your Garden
Step 1. Create a natural landscape
The more you can make the environment you live in similar to the natural habitat of frogs, the more likely you are to be able to attract them to your garden. You don't need a lot of space to do this.
- Plant local shrubs, bushes, and trees to provide the foliage, nectar, pollen, berries, seeds, and dried fruits that wild animals need to survive. Frogs are considered a good indicator of the health of an ecosystem, so by attracting other animals, you will also attract frogs.
- Make sure there are good hiding places for wildlife, especially frogs. Hiding places can consist of local vegetation, bushes, shrubs, undergrowth or even fallen tree branches.
Step 2. Create a pond
Frogs need water to survive. By building a natural looking pond in your garden, you can induce frogs to come and stay. The size of the pond depends on how much space you have available.
- Of course, not everyone can create a garden pond, but you can create a water source using a low, wide drinking trough or plant pot.
- If you want to create a pond, you will need to consider aspects such as depth (for example, if your area freezes in winter, the pond will need to be deeper for life forms to survive the winter) or how to keep algae in check (the barley straw is a good natural method for killing algae).
- The pond should look like a natural refuge as much as possible. This means local plants, debris on the bottom, maybe even a trunk or branch floating on the surface. Such a pond will naturally balance itself out with minimal seasonal algae growth.
Step 3. Build a frog shelter
It is basically a ceramic house for frogs or toads. You can easily make your own with an inverted ceramic flowerpot. Make a hole in one side to act as an entrance. Or you can put it on top of a rock, so that the frog can get in and out.
Put it in a shady spot near the water (a pond or large tray filled with water)
Step 4. Beware of weed species
Stay informed which frogs are native to the area you live in. Pest species, such as the Cuban frog in Florida, can eat local species and compete with them for food and territory.
Advice
- Frogs are more likely to be found in less inhabited places.
- Frogs don't like direct sunlight, so they hide in wooded areas or under something in humid places.
- Frogs tend to return to the pond (or similar places) where they were born; so, if there is an area where many frogs have spawned, this is a good place to start your search.
Warnings
- When walking through wooded areas, beware of the animals that live there.
- If you catch a frog, make sure it doesn't belong to a protected species.
- Some frogs can get scared and go to your hands when you pick them up, so wear gloves.
- Depending on where you live, you may come across poisonous frogs. Many of them have bright colors, but make sure you know which ones to avoid before starting your search.
