Frogs fit well in their natural environment; however, they can be a pain in the butt if they find shelter in your backyard, making you want to get rid of them.
Not only will you have to bear with the loud croaks late into the night, but you also risk exposing your pets to poisonous species.
On the flip side, frogs play an essential role in the ecosystem, and we can’t rule out their benefits to the environment.
That said, your biggest problem right now is how to get rid of the little creatures in your backyard without appearing to contradict animal protection laws.
We got you covered in this comprehensive guide that outlines the most humane manner of keeping frogs away.
Let’s get down to what is at stake for you.
Table of Contents
Know the Frog Species in your Yard
For starters, you want to know the type of frogs in your backyard. There are many species of frogs today, including invasive species like the Cuban Tree Frog.
Study or do quick research to identify the type of frog in your garden. This will help you determine whether the frog species in question falls under the endangered or protected species list.
You risk falling into trouble with the law if you try to harm an endangered species on the verge of extinction.
Seek professional services if you still doubt the frog species in your garden.
Frog Attractants in your Yard
Having a sizable number of frogs in your yard is a clear indicator of potential frog attractants.
Attractants in your garden could be anything from food to water bodies like ponds.
Some other attractants include :
Shelter
Frogs will find your garden their perfect home if you have tall grass and plenty of weeds around. They are timid creatures by nature and will jump at the opportunity to hide in a garden that doesn’t align with modern gardening techniques.
Insects
Bugs such as flies and mosquitoes in your garden are a surefire way to have frogs croaking in your garden. Insects are a primary food source for frogs, and no doubt they will find their way into your yard for a feast.
Water
Amphibians love water, and you won’t miss them near any water source. Open water sources could be the reason frogs are basking in your yard right now.
You want to check out your landscape or drainage sources to ensure you do not have unwanted water bodies around your garden.
Lighting
Night lighting in your garden provides a beautiful semblance of your landscape. On the contrary, it is an insect reservoir that attracts frogs into your yard.
How to Get Rid of Frogs in the Most Humane Ways
1. Lessen their Natural Environment in your Garden
Frogs love shelter and water.
Get rid of the frogs by removing their natural habitat in your garden.
Drain off ponds or pools in your garden for a couple of weeks. Also, consider covering the pool if you are not using it.
If you have domestic animals in the garden that need water, ensure you empty and clean their troughs frequently.
Slash off weeds and overgrown plants in your yard. Keep your lawn mowed, always.
Once you remove their habitation, they won’t survive.
2. Cut off their Food Supply
The classic food for frogs is bugs or insects.
Get rid of them in your garden, and you can say bye to sleepless nights.
Notably, frogs can also feed on alternative food sources, such as pet food lying outside your house.
To get rid of insects and other food sources:
- Use mild insecticides.
- Keep pet food dishes in the house after feeding your pets.
- Turn off the garden lighting at night.
3. Set up a Barrier
How high is your garden barrier or fence because frogs can also hop?
Species like the American Bullfrogs can hope two feet high. Your best shot here will be to erect a barrier higher than two feet if you want to keep the frogs out of your yard.
When setting up a barrier, consider using a mesh around our garden with holes smaller than a chicken wire, as frogs can also squeeze through.
Also, ensure that posts holding your fence are sturdy to prevent them from tipping over. If your budget allows, consider using concrete or metallic posts which last longer than the wooden ones.
4. Remove the Frogs Physically from your Garden
After you have made your garden frog-proof using the steps above, you can physically pick them off one by one.
Capture the Frogs at Night
Frogs are nocturnal creatures. They are most active when dark, giving you the right time to capture the pests.
Walk around your garden with a torch and shine it directly in their eyes.
This startles and immobilizes them, making it easier for you to capture them.
One more thing, frogs don’t know how to look behind their backs, which is a plus for you.
Scoop the Frogs out of your Pool
To do this well, you will need a long handle scoop net with small holes.
Use it to scoop the frog out of your pool or pond and place them in a separate tall container.
Scooping frogs will require that you use the help of another person during the scoop exercise.
As you scoop the frogs up and out, have someone else open and close the lid of the tall container immediately to prevent them from jumping out.
5. Sprinkle Coffee Grounds in your Garden
Coffee grounds have proven helpful in getting rid of frogs. Spread them on the ground around your yard. The grounds cause discomfort to them when they step on them.
Coffee grounds also double up as crucial nutrients to your plants.
6. Use Salt Water
Using saltwater is quite valuable for deterring frogs in your garden, though not as much.
Saltwater creates a film that stings the frog’s feet, which helps to deter them for a while.
Sprinkle the water on surfaces and walkways. Take care not to expose your plants to saltwater.
7. Sedate the Frogs
Sedating or freezing the frog is a humane way to get rid of them since the cold numbs their bodies, and you won’t have trouble transferring them out in the wild.
Most frog species love hibernating. This makes it easy for you to sedate them.
Place captured frogs into a fridge to cause them to sleep.
Afterward, transfer the frogs to a natural environment. Alternatively, you could decide to euthanize the frogs, especially the invasive species.
8. Use Vinegar
Vinegar is an alternative to using saltwater. It has the same effect as saltwater on frogs, temporarily stinging them.
Avoid spraying it on your garden plants because of their high acidity levels.
9. Use a Snake Repellent
I get you. We are dealing with frogs here and not snakes.
But the exciting bit is that frogs get scared easily by snake repellents, just like snakes.
The repellent won’t eliminate the frogs, but it will help you get rid of their presence in your garden.
Hinder Their Reproduction Process
Getting rid of frogs is one thing, and hindering their reproduction process humanely in your garden is another.
Get Rid of the Eggs
Most frogs lay eggs during the rainy season and will continue laying them till it ends.
That gives you a rough idea of the masses of frog eggs you need to get rid of from your pond or pool. Frog cluster their eggs together in a jelly mass.
Scoop the eggs out of your pond and move them to a natural habitat instead of leaving them out in the heat to die. There is a slight difference between toad and frog eggs.
Toads clump their eggs together in a string-shaped form.
Remove Tadpoles from the Bottom of your Pool
You can do this by scooping them out with a long-handheld scoop net. They usually stay at the bottom of the pool.
Leaving them out in the sun makes them dry out and die.
Instead, transfer them to a more natural environment out of your garden and leave them to fend for their survival.
Conclusion
Frogs can cause a lot of trouble in your backyard if their population goes out of control. Thankfully by deploying the above methods, you will enjoy a frog-free backyard.
Hello, I am Anubha Gupta, the architect in chief of FallsGarden. I am so excited to share some of the best gardening tips and advice I have learned over the years. Visit our about page to know more about me.
