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Bullfrogs love rainy days.![]()
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The largest frog in the United States, the American bullfrog commonly grows up to 6 to 8 inches long! Even as a tadpole, the American bullfrog is larger than other frogs. It takes two to three years for a bullfrog tadpole to mature into a frog, which is longer than many other frogs. Bullfrogs like to live in places with stagnant water and lots of vegetation. They do better in ponds without large fish populations because they’re less likely to be eaten by a predator when they’re young. In winter, the frogs will swim to the bottom of the pond to hibernate. ![]()
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Adult bullfrogs have a varied diet. They primarily eat insects, fish, small birds, and mice, though they can eat almost anything they’re able to fit in their mouth. The American bullfrog is actually invasive to many places, including the western states of the US, because their feeding habits are detrimental to many native animal populations. They were introduced to these areas as a food source and a form of pest control but have since spread, taking over native habitats.![]()
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Despite thriving where they weren’t supposed to, the American bullfrog was actually on the decline in Wisconsin throughout the 1900s. They were over hunted for their legs (to be eaten as cuisine) and they were valued by bait and biological supply companies. Thanks to conservation efforts starting in the 1980s, the American bullfrog population is back on track. ![]()
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What signs of fall do you see? Visit us for a hike or take a walk around your neighborhood looking for cyclical events influenced by seasonal changes. ![]()
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Photo: Kira Breitlow, Aldo Leopold Nature Center![]()
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#PhenologyUpdate #AmericanBullfrog #WIEnviroEd #NatureIsEverywhere #NatureIsForEveryone #EveryBodyOutside
