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Post by dpeppar on Oct 10, 2014 21:12:14 GMT -8
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Post by oldfulica on Oct 11, 2014 7:53:12 GMT -8
I could use an id for these two frog/toads I photographed at the Heron Res. Not sure about this one. DaveP [/a][/a][/quote] Great detail Dave but I couldn't tell you what they are. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2014 12:05:13 GMT -8
Denis could speak to this much more authoritatively than I can, but both look to me like American Bullfrogs, unfortunately.
A bit of information for those who might be interested --
This species is non-native, invasive and destructive. They are native to eastern North America but according to some sources they were introduced into southwest BC around 80 years ago to be farmed to provide frog legs to be sold in restaurants (and to provide jobs for WWI veterans). When this didn't take off, they were simply turned loose, around Victoria and White Rock initially, and have spread out since.
Bullfrogs are much bigger than our native frogs and they eat anything they can get in their big mouths (including baby ducks). They are taking a terrible toll on our native frogs as well as on other species. Our Northern Red-legged Frog spends part of its annual life cycle away from the water, out of reach of bullfrogs, and is blue listed / special concern. Our Oregon Spotted Frog lives its whole life cycle in the water and is thus more subject to bullfrog predation, and it is red listed / endangered. In BC it is reduced to a dangerously small number of breeding pairs, virtually all in 3 small populations in locations where bullfrogs have not yet taken hold.
Bullfrogs reproduce profusely, and though a number of methods have been tried, no one seems to have yet found an effective way to eliminate them once they have taken hold in an area. They have spread up the valley past Chilliwack on the south side of the Fraser, but not as far on the north side. Most biologists I know have a deep respect for all forms of life, but when it comes to bullfrogs, most do not object to ridding the ecosystem of a bullfrog when the opportunity arises.
The Green Frog is another non-native species introduced from eastern North America and found around the valley. It's somewhat smaller than the bullfrog and apparently not as destructive.
Stan Olson
Abbotsford
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Post by dpeppar on Oct 12, 2014 20:02:58 GMT -8
Thanks Stan.....I notice that circle behind the eye on the second picture like the Bullfrog. Thanks for the info.
DaveP
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Post by birderbert on Oct 13, 2014 7:59:12 GMT -8
Great pics Dave! Here's a Northern Red-legged frog photographed on the Sunshine Coast a couple of days ago. They are Blue Listed and most definitely on the Bullfrogs menu:  frog1s by BirderBert, on Flickr |
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Post by birderbert on Oct 14, 2014 8:51:33 GMT -8
I could use an id for these two frog/toads I photographed at the Heron Res. 
I think it is either a Green Frog or a Bullfrog.
 According to my research, the first pic is a female Green Frog. The second shot looks like an American Bullfrog but that's debatable! |
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Post by Gord on Oct 15, 2014 21:05:06 GMT -8
I might go with Green Frog on the first picture. The dorsolateral stripe down the back and strong green mustache makes me wonder but Im by no means an expert on these guys. The other one a classic Bull Frog. The baby Painted Turtles at the reserve better watch out. Even they are not safe.
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