I keep an old plastic bucket by the kitchen door for getting compost, soaking plants etc. At the moment it's three-quarters full of rainwater with a thick layer of sludge at the bottom. Yesterday I found a small frog floating on the surface. I thought it was dead but when I gave it a prod it swam away. I have no idea how it got in there but I was concerned it couldn't get out so I propped a brick in to give it a slope to climb up and though it would hop off overnight. However, tonight it was having a bask on the brick.
What to do? In the last week next door's murdering feline has killed 2 frogs. Should I take the frog to a huge wildlife pond in a park just across the road or just leave it here and hope that the cat doesn't get it?
If you don't really want the frog in your bucket and the cat really is a murderous feline (exterminate it!!!) then I would take it to a safer place where it stands a chance of maturing.
If the frog's happy in the bucket I'd love to leave it there. I'm thrilled we've got frogs back in the garden - haven't seen any for a few years. If I take it to a safer place, we've probably got no frogs left, if the cat gets it we've probably got no frogs left. No win, I think.
Just got my camera connected to PC and figured out how to post pics!
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That's a toad. They taste evil and are much less likely to be eaten than frogs.
If it is up for adoption I can offer it a wonderful home
Thanks Robert! Good to know the cats won't be so keen.
PH, I know he's cute but you're not having him (or her)!!!
Lucky you and lucky toad that it excretes a nasty tasting wotsit to deter the cat ;)
I have a small staging unit beside my kitchen door and it's dark and shady and often damp from watering underneath. A couple of years ago I had a carrier bag sitting beside the staging with some dug up plants in waiting to be re-planted. I duly planted all the stuff but there was still a weight in the bottom of the bag. When I looked in there was a big (what I now think) toad looking back at me. It was the size of the palm of my hand. Seems they like my messy habits!
Hahaha, yes they do, because mess usually means undisturbed. If you can put a log pile somewhere with plants growing around it you will attract all kinds of things. And the cat cant get underneath either. Good luck ;)
We have a toad that lives in our garden (except when he/she bogs off to the river to have its evil way) and we have three cats and a dog. Doesn't bother it at all.