Had a great surprise today

[Nova]

While putting the UV light into the school pond's bio-filter my hand bumped up against something large, soft and slippery. I was so surprised when I pulled out a huge bullfrog. About 3-4 years ago, a student put two bullfrog tadpoles in the pond. I saw the frogs the following year but never saw them again so I thought they both died. Well, one didn't. A kindergarten class came out to see her and fell in love with her. They named her Freckles.

Now if I could find Freckles a boyfriend....

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Love the colors of it. I've got a lone Bullfrog too, but much smaller than that one. I'm wondering if mine will leave to mate or stick around. It only comes out at night and sits in my bog in the exact same spot every night.

 

[Nova]

We had one when we first built the pond and it stays in a drain pipe during the day. Now we have four, a pair in each pond. Build it and they will come.

 

[sissy]

Darn that is a big one .Believe me she will call a boyfriend to her .

 

[Figgy]

Wow that is a big frog, great photos.

 

[Tula]

Love the pictures - she's a big girl!!!

 

[MariaTeresa]

How can you tell that it is a female?

 

[j.w]

Neat you have that cool bullfrog. I bet those kids just love her

 

[Nova]

MariaTeresa, if you look at the first picture you can see the round tympanic membrane "ears" behind her eye. The membrane on a female bullfrog is about the same size as her eye. The membrane on the male is a lot larger then his eye.

Freckles can call all she wants for a boyfriend but the school pond is in an interior courtyard. No way in or out for the wildlife. The only predators are an occasional hawk.

 

[MariaTeresa]

Nova- Thank you! That's really neat to know.

 

[CountryEscape]

I love the reminder of male vs. female on the bullfrogs. I will have to look back on my pics to see differences! And, your frog is really pretty. I'll have to grab one of mine and look at the underside, see if they are as pretty as yours. Congrats on your find. Maybe you need to go to a local wild pond and catch her a mate!

 

[Nova]

I'm thinking about it.

 

[Mike in Vermont]

Nova- Thank you! That's really neat to know.

+1

 

[j.w]

I just learned something about frogs, thanks @Nova