Too many frogs ? No pond skaters

[Marb67]

I built a small pond 3 years ago to attract wildlife. Now we have a new spawning every year but this has created so many frogs. I see them all sat on top of each other in piles on the rocks around the pond. They seem very sociable with each other, very often seeing a tiny frog with a large one as if they are parenting. I see them at night around the garden which is great because they will be hunting slugs. However, is it possible to have too many for a small pond/garden ? would it be good management to take some to our nearby country park for release to balance things or is this a bad idea ? I just don't want them leaving the garden and getting on the road/path and hurt.

I do love having them though.

As for pond skaters I have always kept a 3rd of the pond weed free to attract them but 3 years later still no pond skaters :-(

[Verinda]

Personally I would say you can never have too many frogs. It might not be legal to move them to another pond but I don't know for sure.

Just enjoy them, you are doing a good job for the frog population!

[Fleurisa]

I wouldn't move any frogs as they can pass on diseases to other frogs, if there are too many they will run out of food and some will die off

[WendyC]

I think they will sort their own population out. I saw someone offering newts on Freecycle once.

[Marb67]

What about pond skaters and water boatmen ? I never seem to get them.

[veggiechicken]

Do frogs eat them?

[PyreneesPlot]

I've watched newts following water boatman but not seen a 'catch'.
Glad to hear that something is doing well for your Marb, even if it isn't plants. I have no frogs

[Verinda]

I have frogs, water boatmen and pond skaters, so perhaps frogs don't eat them.

[cariann88]

I found this little fella in my garden today. I don't have a pond but have a pond near by.






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[mothhawk]

I have a frog.

The nearest water is about half a mile away at the bottom of the village. I've had a frog for years, but no idea if it's the same frog, or if a new one comes every so often. It startles me every summer, generally by jumping out suddenly when I'm clearing up floppy bluebell leaves or poached eggs.

Where does it live? Where does it spend the winter? Is it lonely? Who knows?

[alifrew]

As far as I know, frogs return to their birth place to lay spawn each year so if you do need to move some, move the spawn rather than trying to move the frogs as I think the frogs would make their way back anyway. Don't know if there are any laws restricting this as mentioned earlier, but it would help your pond not become totally overrun.


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[snakeshack]

Frogs live about 5 years, toads however last about 40. Frogs and toads both home to their birthplace to spawn , so yes, move some spawn or tadpoles.


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[Verinda]

I'm pretty sure it's illegal to move frog spawn and could spread disease as well so best not to.

I think nature regulates crowd control! If there's too many tadpoles in a pond not all of them will develop into frogs.

[Bigmallly]

Personally I would say you can never have too many frogs. It might not be legal to move them to another pond but I don't know for sure.

Just enjoy them, you are doing a good job for the frog population!

It's illegal to transfer frog-spawn due to the chance of transferring invasive plants but not sure about frogs.

[Marb67]

So why after 3 years do they not come ? All ponds get them after a short time.