The Global Amphibian Crisis
Lots of people do not know that frogs and toads are in big trouble right now. Almost one third of all the amphibians on Earth are in danger of going extinct right now. That comes out to around 2,000 different kinds of frogs and toads!!!
The question is "Why is this happening?"
There is no simple answer, but there are a few reasons that have lead up to this terrible crisis and all combined they help explain the situation. There are other factors, but we will just give you a few.
1. Humans using chemicals that pollute the land and water.
2. Humans building houses and shopping centers on land that amphibians lived on.
3. Oil and pollution run off parking lots and into streams and water ways and poison fish, frogs and toads and other wildlife.
4. Humans let toxic fumes from factories go into the air and come down in the rain. This is called Acid Rain and it kills living things and causes cancer.
5. A deadly fungus called the Chytrid Fungus.
According to one Australia website, the "Chytrid fungus is probably transferred by direct contact between frogs and tadpoles, or through exposure to infected water. The disease may not kill frogs immediately, and they can swim or hop to other areas before they die, spreading fungal spores to new ponds and streams. This means it's very important not to move frogs from one area to another.
Wet or muddy boots and tyres, fishing, camping, gardening or frog-survey equipment may also be contributing to the spread of the disease.
Help stop the spread of Chytrid fungus
Please take the following precautions if you intend visiting frog habitats in the wild, including nature ponds in parks or gardens:
* [Only touch frogs when absolutely necessary, and never with your bare hands. Only touch frogs when absolutely necessary. Remember to use disposable gloves, sample bags and sterile equipment.
* Clean and dry all equipment and wet or muddy footwear before and between visiting frog sites. This may include cleaning the tyres of your vehicle before visiting known high-risk sites where threatened frog species may live.
* Never move a frog from one area to another.
* Carry cleaning utensils and a disinfectant for use between sites."
For these reasons and many more, you should not take frogs and toads out of nature or move them to other places or let pet shop bought frogs or toads go loose where you live. Very bad things can happen.
In most parts of the United States, the law is that you may only remove one animal from nature so long as its not endangered. You should be sure to check what kind of toad or frog you have found before keeping it. Carry a feild guide for your state if you must.
We at Toadily Toads recommend you keep pet store toads and if you can no longer keep them, bring them back to the store or contact a local zoo or wildlife preserve for information on what to do with them. Do NOT release them into nature!
Most of our wild caught toads have been rescues. Toadily Toads supports people helping toads who are trapped in window wells and starving and toads who have been attacked by cats, dogs, lawn mowers and other harmful things. If you want to keep a rescue toad, contact us for more information. Kids should never pick up a toad or frog who might be sick from a disease. If the animal is sick, you should call a wildlife preserve or local zoo.
A toad attacked by a dog or cat or hit with a weed whacker or lawn mower will most likely have blood on him and be possibly missing and arm, leg or foot. Call and adult and do not try to pick up the animal yourself. You could do it further harm.
We also recommend that if your family is using chemicals like the weed killer "Roundup" or other toxic chemicals, to please learn about keeping an organic garden for the sake of your whole family and toads and frogs. These chemicals are responsible for many frog and toad deaths!
Learn all you can about how to help frogs and toads and try to do what you can to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.