Monday, April 19, 2010

We have frogs

We have had a lot of rain around here since last Thursday, and boy, did we need it.  Sometime in the last week we noticed a new sound coming from our pond- frogs!  I should know more about frogs, but I need some help here.  First of all, where did these frogs come from?  Have they been here all along?  When we moved in, the pond was bone dry.  It has now had water in it for several months, but we didn't hear the croaking until last week.  I've thought maybe they only croak during mating season, but I just don't know.  Does anyone out there have any ideas?  Of course, I don't know what kind of frogs/toads they are so that doesn't help much.  I've tried to catch a peek at them a couple of times, but they get quiet when I get to the edge of the pond, and I've only seen a quick glimpse as one jumped into the water.  I'm just curious about when they arrived, where they've been, and why they've been so quiet.  Either way, it's a nice sound and makes me smile.**
While I was laying in bed last night listening to the frogs (they're loud enough to hear from inside with all the doors and windows shut), I began thinking of all the animals we have seen around here since we moved in 8 months ago.  I thought it would be fun to make a list (because that's what I do).  So here you go- here are all the animals we have seen, heard, or have evidence of on or near our property this year:
skunks, raccoons, porcupines, possums, coyotes, wild pigs, armadillos, squirrels, mice, rabbits, moles, scorpions, 4 kinds of snakes, lots of bugs, frogs and at least 20 species of birds including owls, wild turkeys, cardinals, blue jays, bluebirds, towhees, scissortails, doves, quail, crows, robins, etc. 
We also have some domesticated animals that share our fence line:  goats, llamas, cows, horses, a donkey, cats, dogs and kids (which are the loudest of all sometimes).  
Who needs a zoo when you can come visit us?!?

**Since posting this earlier this morning, I found out from a Biology professor that these frogs probably have been here all along and were just buried down deep when the pond was dry.  Also, these frogs croak during mating seasons and this is brought on by rain.  

6 comments:

Unknown said...

I was thinking when I read this that I'm sure I've seen some nature show at some point where the frogs bury themselves in the mud for the dry season, and then when it rains again they come back up out of the dirt. Wouldn't it be weird to be digging in the dirt and come across a frog?

Shelly said...

Wild pigs! Cute!! Have you seen these or just evidence of them? You need to catch one and make it a pet, wouldn't Titus love that!!

Amber said...

Shelly, I'm not sure you know what a wild pig is like. They are HUGE and beastly and can be very destructive. We have both seen evidence and seen a dead one close to our driveway. The large adults can be over 400 pounds! The one we saw was probably between 200-300 pounds. Titus does not need a friend like that! Google "feral hog" and see what I'm talking about or check out this website:
http://icwdm.org/publications/pdf/feral%20pig/txferalhogs.pdf

Shelly said...

I just checked out that article and now I want one! They are so cute!!! Cuter than a regular pig because they are all bristly and hairy. I can see that they can cause a lot of damage, but check out those cute faces!!!! Titus could have a rooting buddy... I just can't resist big old hairy fat animals!

Amber said...

Shelly, I would prefer an armadillo for Titus' rooting buddy. I'm still waiting for that encounter to happen.
If you want a feral hog, come and get one! I've got a good hog-trapping story that might make you think twice!

Shelly said...

hog trapping- sounds entertaining! You should make that your next blog!