Author Topic: What kind of frog is this? (Read 2271 times)

Daisy · « **on:** December 11, 2006, 01:41:31 PM »

Is this a bullfrog?

The first picture shows the frog in a 5 gallon bucket. The second picture shows the frog with a normal size frog next to it.

. There was several of these in the pond this past summer. I mean these guys are HUGE!. When they float in the water and all you see are these huge eyes looking at you , it looks like something out of a Godzilla movie .

.

Seriously tho, there were sooo many frogs in the pond this year that it was rediculous. Will this have an effect on the quality of the water? I had 3 babies at the end of last season and I think that these huge frogs ate them? $:-\$
Darn frogs.

Esther · « **Reply #1 on:** December 11, 2006, 06:49:23 PM »

Oh my word. He sure looks hefty. My frogs are long ago asleep under the ice.

terri · « **Reply #2 on:** December 12, 2006, 02:48:49 AM »

I dont think its a bull frog.. I thought the bullfrog's skin was a bit lumpier. This guys skin seems very smooth.
Whatever type it is, its HUGE! And yes, he probably ate your baby fishies. At that size, they can even eat a Bird!

CT · « **Reply #3 on:** December 12, 2006, 04:34:19 AM »

Dang! That is one big frog ..
Maybe he's listed in here?
http://www.frogs.org/amphibianet/index.asp

obsessed-nj · « **Reply #4 on:** December 12, 2006, 08:26:52 AM »

Looks like a fat, healthy, male bullfrog to me...if you leave him in that bucket with the smaller one, he'll be even fatter and healthier in a very short time, with more room to move around!

They'll eat anything they can cram in their mouths! Lots of big bullfrogs usually means not a whole lot of anything else smaller than they are.

Linda

tootsie · « **Reply #5 on:** December 12, 2006, 08:53:19 AM »

WOW, he sure is a big fella

They can eat a bird?? Now I am wishing they were alot larger and could go after those nasty herons

Daisy · « **Reply #6 on:** December 12, 2006, 09:02:10 AM »

Thanks for the link Kay. I checked it out and they say that the largest frog in Illinois is the Bullfrog.

Linda, good thing for that little one then because shortly after the picture we let them both go. Hopefully the little one was quick enought to get away.

Unfortunetly I think your right. Like I said...we "did" have 3 babies and for the longest time I wondered what happened to them. When I started seeing these monster frogs I kinda new what happened

I don't suppose there is any way to keep them out?

Tootsie.

Now tell me...does that not look scary!

croft · « **Reply #7 on:** December 12, 2006, 04:59:55 PM »

In that last picture it kind of looks like the Loch Ness Monster

. Glad I just have Green frogs.

karen J · « **Reply #8 on:** December 12, 2006, 08:24:29 PM »

Daisy, you're in Illinois? Sure looks like a big fat healthy Illinois Bullfrog to me.

The smaller frog could be a baby (first year) bullfrog or a Green frog.

I'm in North Eastern Illinois, and the Bullfrogs around here are downright scary/huge. I once saw one go after a Hummingbird.

As mean & nasty as they can be, I still like them.

obsessed-nj · « **Reply #9 on:** December 12, 2006, 08:28:19 PM »

OMG, that IS a monster

. Glad he's not in my pond, he'd surely cut down on the bird population and my little grey tree frogs would be categorized as "snacks" . Don't think there's much you can do to get rid of them other than catch and relocate and that isn't the easiest chore; no luck at all trying to catch the (much smaller) ones in my pond all summer

They're cool critters, but I could sure live without them (as could a lot of smaller residents of my pond).

Good luck!

Linda

karen J · « **Reply #10 on:** December 12, 2006, 09:20:36 PM »

Linda, re: relocating: I did try (several times) to catch the Bullfrog and release him/her to where he/she originally came from, which is a wetland/lake only 700 feet away. Oddly enough, when I removed the greenhouse cover from my pond in spring there it was- the same Bullfrog!

I have no idea how that darned frog made it back to my pond before I got it covered, but it did. They are wise in their own way.

If it comes back this year, it will be quite surprised to learn that there is no cushy warm greenhouse to winter over in.

obsessed-nj · « **Reply #11 on:** December 13, 2006, 06:22:49 AM »

Karen, with a wetland/lake only 700 feet away, catch and release may be an exercise in futility. The lake nearest my place is about a mile away, and we see "waves" of frogs crossing the roads at night in late spring/early summer. I imagine your frog is thinking he has it made with your pond so near; sorta like a private reserve, lotsa food and less competition. Think I'd name him Terminator 'cause he WILL be back!

My son, grandson and I kept wondering why our resident bullfrog seemed bigger sometimes and a tad smaller others til one morning when I looked out at the pond and spotted a line-up of four bullfrogs of graduated sizes and realized we hadn't been seeing the same one!

Linda

tootsie · « **Reply #12 on:** December 13, 2006, 11:08:18 AM »

holy hogs houves, I am certain that that "frog" of yours is the largest one I've ever seen

here are a few shots of the smaller ones.

tootsie · « **Reply #13 on:** December 13, 2006, 11:12:32 AM »

Geesh he looks larger in these pictures

Daisy · « **Reply #14 on:** December 13, 2006, 01:03:11 PM »

Karen I have the same problem with the retention pond behind our house. That has to be where they come from so relocating is really useless.

I know we've had more then one at a time because I've seen 2 of them sunbathing on the rocks at times.
Tootsie. your frogs look so nice and green. These guys are so dark green they are scary.

At this rate I'll never have babies again.

I suppose these guys could really wreck havic with your water quality?

LeeAnne151 · « **Reply #15 on:** December 14, 2006, 01:53:44 PM »

That photo with the eyes sticking up does indeed look scary.

A friend of ours worked at a golfcourse and he saw a bullfrog jump out of the pond and grab and swallow a baby duckling.

louis · « **Reply #16 on:** December 14, 2006, 07:20:46 PM »

hi daisy,
he is a bull frog and he has his winter coloring. they turn black, usually in late september, in prep for the long sleep. black so they will not be seen in the mud.

i love frogs

lou

Daisy · « **Reply #17 on:** December 15, 2006, 05:34:52 AM »

Whoa thats scary LeeAnne! Poor ducky.

I like frogs too Louis, I just like them a little smaller

I didn't know they turn black tho...thats very interesting. We don't even have any more of the small green frogs since these bullfrogs invaded.

lori s · « **Reply #18 on:** December 16, 2006, 08:50:29 AM »

Daisy, he does look like the lochness monster in the pond.

Tootsie, I think your frog is a green frog since it looks like he has a raised line going down his back.

tootsie · « **Reply #19 on:** December 17, 2006, 09:24:20 AM »

Yes Lori I believe it is

I had such a riot this summer watching them pair up, well not exactly,it was the battle of the powerful! There was one pair that tried to get together using the width of the pond. All I saw were frog elbows and butts!! Perhaps they were just showing off their aquatic skills? i DUNNO, but they are just so funny to watch! Also while I was walking around the shallow side of the pon., One lil frog kept trying to race me into the water for his get away!! Funny thing is,when the water cleared, he had zoomed into the wet clay to hide, but the only thing that was covered up was his little head!!