Last weekend’s rain resulted in an impressive natural phenomenon in the garden of Martijn Konings from Vlijmen on Sunday. Together with his children, Konings witnessed the so-called frog rain. Hundreds of little brown frogs skipped across his driveway.
Martijn and his family enjoyed the special moment in his front yard, which is located near a small fen between gardens, meadows and ditches. “You really notice that you live close to nature,” says Konings. For the children, Konings had put a few small frogs in a bucket so that they can look at them well. “But after a few minutes we had released them again, because animals are of course not for playing with.”
Konings posted a photo on Twitter and asked for advice. There were dozens of responses. “I think it’s funny that people think along like that and are just as surprised as I am about the hundreds of frogs in my garden.” By Tuesday morning all the little critters had already left.
Waiting for privacy settings…
“There’s a frog explosion.”
According to forest ranger Frans Kapteijns, it is quite normal for hundreds of small frogs or toads to be found in large groups at this time of the year.
“All the eggs have hatched and if there are few enemies in the area, there is a ‘frog explosion'”, says the ranger. “Grasslands and gardens have water on the top layer due to the rain in recent days and these animals move in water-rich conditions.”
Common frogs and toads spend more than eighty percent of their lives outside of water. “And they are now looking for small insects such as spiders and ticks to eat,” explains forester Kapteijns. “So it may be that they were on their way through Martijn’s driveway to an area where food can be obtained.”
“It’s better not to touch them.”
If you encounter hundreds of small frogs or toads during your walk, or in your garden like Martijn’s. Then forest ranger Kapteijns advises one thing: enjoy all the jumping, youthful stuff. “But don’t touch them, because the frogs breathe through their skin. If you touch them, there is a good chance that their skin will be damaged.”
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