What Can I Do?

If you want to help frogs, there are many ways to do something. For a start, some changes to your daily lifestyle can make a difference. For example:

  • If you regularly see frogs around your home, be what happens to frogs if you close windows on themcareful when you close windows and doors. Check to see there are no frogs in the way before you shut that door or window. Also check clothes hoists and garage roller doors.
  • Herbicides and insecticides can be deadly to frogs and tadpoles. Don't use them. Instead, let the spiders, geckos and the frogs themselves kill those pesty bugs. Teach your family members about weeds and how to identify them by letting them help you pull out those weeds by hand instead of using chemicals.
  • Many people keep dogs for security as well as companionship but dogs are surprisingly good at finding and injuring frogs. Control your dog and teach it not to attack or disturb wildlife.
  • Many cat owners insist that their cool and aloof feline doesn't attack any wildlife but their neighbors often witness the truth. Keep your cat indoors at night where it can keep YOU company instead of the 'locals'. Even more importantly, WORM your cat regularly. See our Cats page for an explanation of how cats are killing frogs - even when they have no direct contact at all!
  • Be on the lookout for any frogs you may see in your yard or elsewhere which might be injured or sick. A frog with lumps, ulcers or holes in the skin, blotchy colours (when the skin is normally a solid colour), difficulty moving, sitting in the sun during the day, emaciated or bleeding needs to be examined right away. Keep a clean ice cream container (with a secure lid with airholes punched through it) and a small jar of aged water in your car so that you can collect any sick or injured frogs you might find while driving. Contact the Cairns Frog Hospital right away if you do see a frog which might have a problem. (The mobile number in Cairns is (0418) 152 199 and the office is (07) 4053-4367 afternoons and evenings.)
  • Water and shelter are crucial for frogs and Cairns is losing large amounts of both. Vegetate your yard as much as possible and have a couple bird baths in shady spots so frogs have water during the dry season. For more info about this, read our 'Bigger Picture' page.
  • Keep a compost pile in a corner of the yard to attract bugs - the drought is causing drastic food shortages for frogs and this becomes 'environmental stress' which in turn causes the frog to lose its resistance to diseases.

In addition to the above, you can become directly involved in frog conservation activities. Depending on what groups are operating in your area, there may be a range of activities such as adopting a local creek to keep it weed free and revegetated, creating informative displays to be used in schools and shopping centres, or putting in a frog pond in your yard and providing information to your neighbours so they can do the same, etc. If your mobility is limited, you might just be a financial member of one or more groups which helps support their work. We have a membership program, too, and you don't have to live in Cairns to be a member (but our members' materials are geared towards local species/issues so the closer you are, the more you'll get out of our kits).

Another way to help is to write letters. Lobbying and advocacy is neccessary to make sure that policy makers and government departments are aware of the situation concerning frog declines and our deteriorating environment. If you are willing to write some letters, visit our new section called "Letter Writer's Corner".

If you want to support the Cairns Frog Hospital or be involved in the Frog Decline Reversal Project, you can become a member or you can just donate items which are needed. Useful items include office and computer supplies, plastic pet tanks, postage stamps, photocopying, etc. Our current needs list is in the We Need Your Help page.

 

last edited: Dec. 27th, 2003