Giant Bullfrogs Invade Vancouver Island

[Spartan]

 

 

The recent catch of an enormous bullfrog in a remote Vancouver Island pond has fueled concern that the voracious amphibians are spreading unchecked across the British Columbia island’s landscape.

 

Russ Schut, who was fishing in tiny Sproat Lake with a worm and bobber, hauled in the 2-foot-long American bullfrog and released it—after posing for a photograph—without knowing that it belonged to an invasive species that threatens native critters.

Because they’re not native to the Canadian southwest and have few natural predators, such as alligators, water snakes, and kingfishers in their native American southeast, some of the bullfrogs are growing to abnormally large sizes.

 

(American bullfrogs are the largest North American frogs and typically grow to about 7 inches, and weigh up to 1.5 pounds.)

 

 

According to National Geographic, American bullfrogs can lay as many as 20,000 eggs, with tadpoles sometimes reaching lengths of 7 inches. A group of bullfrogs is called an army, or colony.

 

The voracious amphibians feed largely at night, ambushing prey by lunging with their powerful hind legs.

 

Though native to the American southwest, they now range throughout the continuous U.S., as far north as Canada and as far south as Mexico and Cuba. Their presence also has been documented in Europe, South America, and Asia.

 

So it seems that Vancouver Island is not likely to rid itself of the pesky frogs anytime soon. On the bright side, frog-gigging prospects are looking up.

[Spartan]

Man, you take those froggy legs and clean 'em and dip them in a mix of milk and ranch dressing, then sprinkle Cajun spices on them, then dip them in corn flour, and throw in a pot of hot grease for a few minutes until golden brown... dat's some good eatin' yall

[JANASENA]

Gp