It's been a weird May in upstate New York. I don't mean this in a negative way...or a positive one, either. It's weird in a...well, a weird way. The winter was a brutally cold one, followed by a much-warmer-than-expected Spring. In fact, according to New York City's Channel 7 meteorologist Lee Goldberg (my favorite weather reporter), temperatures topped the 80-degree mark eight out of the fourteen days we've had so far. Highly unusual. Stranger still, are the unpredictable dips in mercury every now and again. For instance, last night, temps took a nose dive, not halting the freefall until hitting the 36-degree mark.
Could this be the reason that I have no frogs in my pond yet this season? If memory serves (incidentally, I'm not guaranteeing that it does, mind you), I can usually count on a croak or two around the 'ole watering hole by mid-May. I know for a fact that the tree frogs are finicky about temperature, because TWO nights ago they struck up a surprise concert in the canopy of tree limbs overhanging the pond. Of course it was 63-degrees then. Transpose the numbers, and the frog-frolicking abruptly ended. And even though today was lovely--in the mid-sixties--the tree-peepers are making themselves scarce.
And I've not seen a hint of terrestrial frogs or their equally shy cousins, the toads. Warm temps don't seem to tempt them pond-side. It's almost as if they know that the milder-than-normal afternoons are a ruse to expose their vulnerabilities. But, whether they're clever or cautious, I don't know. My research has turned up nothing on the subject.
Since we can't control the weather, it's best to address the things we CAN do to get the critters into our yards:
1. Curve appeal: Never dig a pond that has straight edges, because it's less attractive to the very amphibians you're trying to attract. Round and kidney-shaped ponds provide extra hiding places and areas for other organisms (like patches of floating algae, AKA frog candy) necessary for the pond environment to flourish. You'll also want to make sure at least one side of your pond slopes so that it's easily accessible. Frogs need ready access to terra firma and the water world, and they have a hard time climbing straight up a wall from deeper water.
2. Create a stage: Like all living things, frogs place their wants and needs on center stage. Help them out by creating a place where they get to play the starring roles. Try adding some rocks to the water so that they can do some climbing if they like. Plants, such as water lilies, ferns, hostas, and cattails, make great additions to your pond's edges, because they'll provide shade, add beauty, and naturally filter the water. You may even want to turn some pots on their side, and bury them partially around the edges so the frogs can hide or seek shade when it gets too hot.
3. Be patient: Stick with the "If you build it, they will come" philosophy, and never add frogs to your pond. If you take a frog from its natural habitat or a pet store and add it to your pond, you can create several problems. The frog may not be prepared to handle the environment, which can lead to death. Or, the environment may not be ready to handle the frog, and if they multiply, they can cause disease that can affect the area's ecosystem. If you are having trouble attracting frogs, contact your state's wildlife division and ask for information on the types of frogs that are native to your area. Find out what they like to eat or what type of conditions they prefer. Proper research should result in "hoppy" critters, who are looking to make your home theirs too.
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