The green frog or edible frog (Rana esculenta) is an amphibian that results from the hybridization between the Lessona frog (Rana lessonae) and the laughing frog (Rana ridibundus).
Of the Ranidae family, the green frog is green-brown and measures a good ten centimeters when adult. It populates our ponds, lakes, ponds and streams rich in vegetation that provides shelter. Its main predators are herons, pikes and snakes.
It comes out of its hibernation in March and resumes its place at the water's edge or on the water lilies. It is in summer, day and night, that we hear them the most. The males emit their songs especially at the end of the day or during the night to attract the females which will lay after the freshness of the gelatinous clusters composed of several thousands of eggs in the middle of the plants. After a few days, the tadpoles will appear and will remain in the water until the following spring when they will metamorphose into green frogs.
The green frog is a real attraction around the pond. Essentially an insectivore, it captures insects by leaping over 30 centimeters. It also feeds on earthworms, snails and slugs, and even other amphibians.
In November, with the return of the cold, the green frog will settle down to hibernate either in the mud or in a small gallery dug in the ground.
How to encourage the installation of frogs?
If your pond is colonized by frogs, the summers will be noisy! But what a show around the water. Children and adults alike will be delighted to watch them snatch up passing insects.
To help them settle in
- Install large rocks around your pond that will provide shelter for the winter but will also encourage the development of insects that will appreciate these shady and humid spots.
- Install a lot of vegetation on the edges of the pond.
- Install many flowers (lavender, perennial geranium, ...) that will bloom in a spread out manner from March to November. The flowers will attract foraging insects like bumblebees, bees and butterflies.
- Also install plenty of water plants to make them feel safe if the frogs need to hide from a predator.
- In winter, if you must handle the rocks, do so carefully, a toad or frog may be underneath.
The frog is protected
The handling of the animal is safe for humans. On the other hand all amphibians and reptiles are strictly protected, as well as their biotopes. The taking of samples in the wild is forbidden.
