Helping frogs cross the road..

"Quack Quack"

I love frogs. I find them cute. I love watching them in ditches. Their quacking sounds and little jumps make me smile. They are complete "zaba" stuff!

And this spring, I helped them cross the roads! :D

With the onset of spring the mating season for frogs start. Thousands of frogs then try to reach some water from the plains and hills to lay their eggs. At certain places in Slovenia, on their way to some big pond or something similar, the frogs need to cross the main roads. And in an attempt to do so, thousands get killed every year. Thus around this time, there is this voluntary group that actually organizes to help frogs cross roads. A 'fence' is put up at places where frogs cross in high number. Around the sunset when frogs start moving, they get caught at this fence. Then volunteers pick them up in buckets; put them across and a bit away from the road. Some of those that manage to escape the fence can still get killed, but most are saved in the way.

It sounded like a great idea, and I decided to volunteer one day. It was one Saturday towards the end of the breeding season when we actually had found time to go there.

Though I had happily agreed to the idea and was excited about it, I was very much unsure if I would be able to touch one in reality. To dissect chloroformed toads in high school Biology practical was something else. I enjoyed that. But catching one, that can actually jump, hm, I was not so sure. Somehow I do not like animals very close to me, let alone touch them. Specially amphibians and reptiles. And even though I would be wearing gloves, I had this strange feeling inside me. Well, hm. I decided, if I would not manage, I would just enjoy watching them. But I secretly hoped to be able to manage...

We reached the spot. Some people were already at 'work'. It was nice to see so many enthusiasts and frog lovers. Wearing the reflective jacket and gloves, I was all ready, hardly able to wait for the adventure to begin!!

The first one I spotted was a small toad. I did not dare to approach it. I was happy looking at it in the bucket after Blaž caught it. For the next few ones also I did not even manage to try.

And then when I actually got the courage to try, I chose the wrong type of frog. It was a common frog. And as I was putting my hand close to it, it made a jump. In a reflex I jumped back a feet away from the frog saying "it jumps"! As if it was not supposed to! That scared jump of the frog for escape actually managed to scare me all the more. It is not my thing, I decided sadly..

The bucket had accumulated within it quite a few frogs and it was time to take them across the road. As we slowly turned the bucket on the ground, the common frogs were first to jump out. Such restless were they! The toads followed. And in the end there was a small scared green frog, barely moving or trying to escape. Looking at the scared little one I felt sorry. And finally I got enough courage to actually take it out of the bucket. The poor frog took a few moments after I had put it on the grass and then jumped away! Later I picked up all the 5-6 green frogs we spotted!! I was sooo proud of myself..

These green frogs were scared and small. They barely moved as were approached, not even trying to escape. One could see that they were scared and lost.. But in my mind I imagined that when they were on the other side of the road and closer to the pond, not knowing how that happened; they were somehow thankful to the fact. Thankful that they did not have to cross the dangerous roads where 'big looking things' can crush them to death. It was a happy feeling knowing they are safe.

The little toads, not those big ones we used to get for dissection, were neither very scared nor very jumpy. Most of them were in pairs. The bigger female toad carried the small male toad on its back, and on the way to the water they mated. There were some poor male toads still in search of partner. The male ones in pairs therefore were always in danger of losing their partner if not careful. So, if the hind legs of a male toad with its partner were touched; it thought another male was approaching its partner and tried to kick it away with all might. Funny it was to watch that. Basic instincts! These small toads do not need a pond or lot of water to lay eggs; they can do that even in small puddles in the fields. By that time of the season some were already coming back after leaving there eggs. And some males were getting a ride even on the way back!!

The naughtiest ones were the common brown frogs. They jumped and jumped and jumped. They were trying to escape all the time. They 'stood' stretching all their legs with the bucket as support. They even 'stood' on others. A desperate attempt to escape. Again, basic instinct!

Oh, someone caught two small Alpine newts also and showed us. Newts are colorful and amphibians, but to me they are 'lizards'. And lizards and me... But they were cute :) Little ones..

It was an evening learning more about frogs. For the first time in life I was close to some animal and observing them, their ways and instincts. And it was fun and exciting!! Some event I am looking forward to participate in next year too.

We made the frogs scared. But we saved them.

And as we parted I know what they said. A "quack quack" thank you!!!


"Quack"

 @..@
  (----)
 < I I >
   " "