Collecting amphibians

[NatureLady]

To add my two cents worth to this post...I am beyond glad to read this!!!!

One of my first posts to this site was on a thread about a person whom lives in a neighboring state that had an endangered species (in our two states) in his care. I asked him if he understood that his state was against any form of buying, selling, owning, or anything having to do with the species. He got all bent out of shape at me and I felt alone in caring about animals well being and natural populations.

I am an environmental conservationist who works at a state nature center...hence NatureLady. I have to have all sorts of state and federal liscences to keep and collect animals for displays and educational purposes. I have a vet that is contracted for my center and he does a vet check on all of my husbandary and general animal health bi-annually. Plus I can rush to his office and he will see me at any hour needed. I also worked at a vet's office during my college years as a vet tech, so I am trained in how to detect abnormalities in my animals. My work is not child's play, although I think that some see it as such. I teach each person (young or old) that walks through the door that animals are wild for a reason and why we do not keep them as pets. I don't even have wild natives in my home. I have a cb wtf and other domestic creatures, but not wild babies!!!

Education starts young...caring is built from understanding...keep true to your feelings and teach in a manner that makes the person drop the emotional asspect of why they WANT WANT WANT.

Sorry if my rant has mispellings...no time to spell check it first

[REDDEV1L]

I keep native species over here in the UK, and it's amazing how few people do it. (Alot think its illegal...which I suppose is a good thing)
although we have very few species compared to the states, so im sure that has something to do with it.

The only reason I would remove a juvi/adult amphibian is if it was in need of help, couldn't properly fend for itself (injury/deformity) or was an albino which would be much more likely to be eaten by a predator.

The main reason for my current collection is due to raising some spawn which I thought would be nice for my little bro to learn about etc.
Unfortunately, I didn't have any proper info regarding supplements and lighting etc and many of them developed MBD and died. This is what brought me onto forums tryig to find out how to help etc... and luckily I still have two remaining toads who are now over 3 yrs old.
After learning more and more, and being more confident, I collected some frogspawn, and raised 3 frogs to adulthood. They bred last year, so I raised the tadpoles until close to metamorphosis, then released most but kept a few back. This year the adult trio bred again, so i'm partially raising the tadpoles, and once the weather settles down, EVERYTHING will be released back into the wild. (the adult trio, the 6 juvies and the tadpoles)

I have a MFF trio of common toads and next year intend to try & breed those, and if successfull will release the offspring (except a couple)

[kueluck]

I love it when people raise them from tadpoles. Since the mortality rate of tads and morphs is so high they need any help they can get to increase the population. Last year I raised 46 Cope's from tads and released all but 2, and the 2 that I tend to are happy and healthy. I remember as a kid I would be able to find frogs and toads in great numbers, but not anymore. It's very sad and I'm guessing it's the same all around the world.

[REDDEV1L]

For anyone interested here's a short video of me releasing my 6 rana temporaria froglets (10 months old when released yesterday and they were big for their age)
I released the tadpoles too, but am keeping the adults back a little while longer (Afterall they've already spawned... there's no rush to release them!!)

[John]

Just a note on releasing things. Since you have so many exotic amphibians, it's highly likely that some of the pathogens (nasty organisms and diseases) being carried by the exotic ones are making it to the native ones that you are collecting and releasing. That's not a healthy situation. In some countries it's illegal to release back into the wild, because of this very problem.

[kueluck]

John, are you talking about non-native species? If so, I hope people are keeping the species separated, and also releasing only natives.

[frogluver]

John, are you talking about non-native species? If so, I hope people are keeping the species separated, and also releasing only natives.

I understand what John is saying....here in Alaska it is illegal to capture native amphibians and them release them back into the wild after keeping them in captivity. You must treat the amphibians as biological waste....

[FROGHUNTER]

I personally find no problem with taking adult animals out of the wild, especially during breeding season when they are easier to nab up.
I usually just find the biggest and loudest ones i can, lighter throat ones and peacefully use them to fill my belly.
God put animals on this earth to eat. i just see it as controlling or "limiting" the population so that we dont have an overrun of frogs in the near future.

[S13]

I personally find no problem with taking adult animals out of the wild, especially during breeding season when they are easier to nab up.
I usually just find the biggest and loudest ones i can, lighter throat ones and peacefully use them to fill my belly.
God put animals on this earth to eat. i just see it as controlling or "limiting" the population so that we dont have an overrun of frogs in the near future.

So you created an account just to make this homerun of a comment?

[frogluver]

I personally find no problem with taking adult animals out of the wild, especially during breeding season when they are easier to nab up.
I usually just find the biggest and loudest ones i can, lighter throat ones and peacefully use them to fill my belly.
God put animals on this earth to eat. i just see it as controlling or "limiting" the population so that we dont have an overrun of frogs in the near future.

Well ya don't go about eating FROGS!!!!! Especially when they are facing a world crisis here!!!! And that seems sooo mean!
Ah, you've got me worked up....I'm going to keep my mouth shut, for now.

I don't know, maybe I'm just sensitive.....

[frogluver]

Was I too harsh with my words?
I don't usually lash out like this.....sorry

[S13]

Was I too harsh with my words?
I don't usually lash out like this.....sorry

Pretty sure the guy was just trolling, it was the worst troll attempt I have ever witnessed though. I wouldn't pay too much attention to him lol.

[frogluver]

Pretty sure the guy was just trolling, it was the worst troll attempt I have ever witnessed though. I wouldn't pay too much attention to him lol.

Oh, hahahaha ok!

I must be a little tempermental after being stuck in bed for a few days, trying to fight off this darn cold!

[ViperJr]

Well ya don't go about eating FROGS!!!!! Especially when they are facing a world crisis here!!!! And that seems sooo mean!
Ah, you've got me worked up....I'm going to keep my mouth shut, for now.

I don't know, maybe I'm just sensitive.....

There's nothing bad by default to eat frogs, they're animals and edible like many other animals. However, it's a matter of perspective and how one does it, not to mention global commerce/private consumption. For example, a private person hunting and eating some American bullfrogs are actually helping the decline of some amphibians, since they're a very invasive species in many part of US, where they eat both the food of other frogs, and other frogs. However, let's leave that specific topic to this thread, which actually deals with the eating or non-eating of frogs.

[UncleChester]

There's nothing bad by default to eat frogs, they're animals and edible like many other animals. However, it's a matter of perspective and how one does it, not to mention global commerce/private consumption. For example, a private person hunting and eating some American bullfrogs are actually helping the decline of some amphibians, since they're a very invasive species in many part of US, where they eat both the food of other frogs, and other frogs. However, let's leave that specific topic to this thread, which actually deals with the eating or non-eating of frogs.

The same logic applies to collecting amphibians. Naturalists shouldn't argue if you take adults from an invasive species out of the wild breeding population.

This doesn't just apply to invasive species though. Sustainable collection form healthy and abundant native populations is certainly possible.

[ViperJr]

The same logic applies to collecting amphibians. Naturalists shouldn't argue if you take adults from an invasive species out of the wild breeding population.

This doesn't just apply to invasive species though. Sustainable collection form healthy and abundant native populations is certainly possible.

Never said that it doesn't apply to collecting, did I?

However, I personally feel that it's unnecessary to collect from the wild when there's a CB population available. Not to mention that it's illegal in some countries not only to collect, but to even keep WC animals, no matter how abundant they are (like it is in Sweden).

[UncleChester]

Never said that it doesn't apply to collecting, did I?

Nope- just agreeing with you and explicitly expanding

However, I personally feel that it's unnecessary to collect from the wild when there's a CB population available. Not to mention that it's illegal in some countries not only to collect, but to even keep WC animals, no matter how abundant they are (like it is in Sweden).

Oh yea, definitely follow the laws. I'd agree about CB if they're available. If there are abundant local wild populations I would want some convincing proof that someone selling CB specimens is actually selling CB specimens.

So, what happens to a kid who brings home a wild caught frog in Sweden? This would be illegal? Is it something that happens there? I'm genuinely curious if there's a different cultural attitude towards molesting amphibians in Sweden. Capturing frogs in buckets seems to be commonly accepted as something kids do here. The legality of it depends on the frog and province.

[Kristen]

Not to mention that it's illegal in some countries not only to collect, but to even keep WC animals, no matter how abundant they are (like it is in Sweden).

It's like that here too (but they have different laws for different states of Australia)

[matt palm]

[QUOTE=FROGHUNTER;110374]I personally find no problem with taking adult animals out of the wild, especially during breeding season when they are easier to nab up.
I usually just find the biggest and loudest ones i can, lighter throat ones and peacefully use them to fill my belly.
God put animals on this earth to eat. i just see it as controlling or "limiting" the population so that we dont have an overrun of frogs in the near future.[/QUOTE

not cool bro

[FROGHUNTER]

Im sorry im not ill in the brain and keep my frogs like theyre children and S$@%