Little Froggies!

Usually on Friday the kids go swimming after school. That was the plan today as well but little frogs (about the size of a dime) were swimming in the pool. We had a huge rainstorm several nights ago so that is how they got in our pool I am sure. I can actually say that it rained - cats and frogs. So, we proceeded to catch them and put them in a bucket. Then we noticed they were actually sticking their heads above water trying to breath. We then thought they must not like the water. Have you figured out we don't know much about frogs?

When Chelsea arrived she called a fellow science teacher at her school and she said they were probably tadpoles yesterday and today were "Colorado bullfrogs" and would die if they stayed in the bucket. Of course the kids wanted to take these little darlies home and make them their pets. I thought that sounded like fun actually - a little Snesko home science project. But no, the teacher with all the knowledge said they needed to be in muddy soil where they could burry into the ground and also find food. Eventually they would grow bigger and we would hear their frog sounds.

With much talking and explaining, especially to Tatum, that they would die if we didn't let them go it was decided to release them in my flower bed.





Now - little frogs grow up to be big frogs. Do I need to remind my family that I have found many times "big" frogs in my swimming pool skimmer. They can't get out so you know what happens don't you? I wonder how long it takes them to grow bigger than a "dime."

I was actually curious enough to google "colorado bullfrogs" and this is what they write about them.

"Tadpoles may remain in the tadpole stage for almost 3 years before transforming into frogs. Adults reach maturity after 3 to 5 years. The average bullfrog lives seven to nine years in the wild. The record lifespan of an animal in captivity is 16 years. A bullfrog may bury itself in mud and construct a small cave-like structure for the winter. Bullfrogs are active both during the day and at night. Bullfrogs are very aggressive predators. They eat snakes, worms, insects, mice, crustaceans, frogs, tadpoles, and aquatic eggs of fish, frogs, insects, or salamanders."

So, maybe they will live in the flower bed for a few years before falling back in the pool. I hope so!