My last posting I talked about my pond and the love and hate relationship I have with it. Today I would like to introduce you to Pat the Bufo frog that has decided to make my pond her second home. His or her name is Pat after that famous Saturday night character, you know the one we never knew weather it was a he or a she.
The Bufo Frogs or Marine toads are not native to Florida they were introduced in the late 1800 and released in the sugar cane fields in an attempts to control the beetles that damage the sugarcane, this attempt by humans to mess with mother nature has created problems for cat and dog owners in today Florida, you see these frogs have enlarged glands on the side of the neck, one behind each eye. These glands secrete a white poison that gets smeared in the mouth of any predator, inflaming the mouth and throat and causing nausea, irregular heart beat, and, in extreme cases, death. A dog or cat that bites a Bufo frog will sicken and may die.
My dog Rosie has never been interested in Pat so I let her reside in my pond. My co-worker has a dog that will hunt any creature in the yard, He has had to rush to the Vet with his sick dog several times, when the dog starts convulsing you know is because of a Bufo frog. It gets very costly the only treatment is antibiotics and an over night stay at the pet hospital and if is not caught in time the animal can die.
Pat spends the night in the pond with her head sticking out, eating her regular diner of bugs, she lets me know when is time to clean the pond, she simply will not swim in dirty water.
What is in bloom in the garden today?
Angels Trumpets, the white trumpets are in bloom for the first time, I got this plant as a cutting from a neighbor this summer. Is very unusable to see it in bloom during the winter but this year everything is mess up.
The Bufo Frogs or Marine toads are not native to Florida they were introduced in the late 1800 and released in the sugar cane fields in an attempts to control the beetles that damage the sugarcane, this attempt by humans to mess with mother nature has created problems for cat and dog owners in today Florida, you see these frogs have enlarged glands on the side of the neck, one behind each eye. These glands secrete a white poison that gets smeared in the mouth of any predator, inflaming the mouth and throat and causing nausea, irregular heart beat, and, in extreme cases, death. A dog or cat that bites a Bufo frog will sicken and may die.
My dog Rosie has never been interested in Pat so I let her reside in my pond. My co-worker has a dog that will hunt any creature in the yard, He has had to rush to the Vet with his sick dog several times, when the dog starts convulsing you know is because of a Bufo frog. It gets very costly the only treatment is antibiotics and an over night stay at the pet hospital and if is not caught in time the animal can die.
Pat spends the night in the pond with her head sticking out, eating her regular diner of bugs, she lets me know when is time to clean the pond, she simply will not swim in dirty water.
What is in bloom in the garden today?
Angels Trumpets, the white trumpets are in bloom for the first time, I got this plant as a cutting from a neighbor this summer. Is very unusable to see it in bloom during the winter but this year everything is mess up.
5 comments:
I'm heading to Florida soon and your photos get me all fired up to see these beauties in person...Love frogs by the pond...oh dear my Paisley would surely try to catch this one as she has fun in the summer with my 2 resident frogs. Yikes a bitter bite for sure. :)NG
As usual when man messes with mother nature the results are not good; but we never learn.
I love the Angels Trumpets, used to grow them in Canada as an annual. The seed pods are interesting also. Do you have any of the blue tinged ones. I had never seen the pinky ones until coming south.
Very pretty.
Brenda
Hi Rusty
I will stay clear of that Toad.
Love those Angel trumpets
That sounds like a smart frog. I don't like to swim in dirty water either. :)
I am so jealous that you can post "what's blooming in the garden now"! In a few more months, I can, too. Love your flowers!
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