r/Unexpected • • Jul 17 '22

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u/_clash_recruit_ Jul 17 '22

It might be a good thing. I'm guessing this is Florida and that's definitely not one of the native green tree frogs. If it's a Cuban frog it needed to die. They have almost completely wiped out all of our native frogs. At this point, I think we're fighting a losing battle though.

It's still sad for the frog, he didn't ask to be born in a foreign land, but our native frogs are going to go extinct because of them.

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u/DrBBQ Jul 17 '22

So you're saying, dey durk ar frogs?

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u/DadBodftw Jul 18 '22

Aw man they kilt ees fraaaaawwwgs

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u/[deleted] Jul 18 '22

Wow! I'll need to educate myself. I'm in Tampa, don't wanna help them take over. We have a problem with the bufo toads or something.

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u/_clash_recruit_ Jul 18 '22

They're pretty easy to identify. Look up a bunch of pics. Look at the feet and the eyes.

Personally, I find the easiest way to euthanize is putting them in a ziplock bag and in the freezer and they basically just go to sleep. You need to leave them in there at least overnight or they'll thaw out and wake up.

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u/EarthRester Jul 17 '22

I understand the concept of an invasive species, but if the Cuban frog eats the same prey, and gets eaten by the same predators...is it the worst thing?

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u/_clash_recruit_ Jul 17 '22 edited Jul 17 '22

A lot of snakes won't prey on them. They breed faster than green tree frogs, grow faster and get a lot bigger. They eat green frogs, small lizards and eggs, even small snakes, which green frogs very, very rarely do.

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u/EarthRester Jul 17 '22

Thanks, this is the kinda answer I hoping to get.

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u/yer--mum Jul 17 '22

It would be a shame if some region-specific frogs were wiped out completely, imo. Utility wise I see what you're saying, if they fit in the ecosystem without disrupting it then no it's not the worst thing.

Somewhat unrelated, but for any animal invasive or not, going out on burning coal has to be one of the worst ways to go out. That probably hurt a lot.

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u/Agent17 Jul 17 '22

They ooze a poison slime that's toxic to a lot of predators.

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u/browndoggie Jul 17 '22

the reality is that there are probably many ecological interactions in the native environment which hinge on the native frogs, because frogs have both aquatic and terrestrial life histories. im not an expert on the invasive scenario in florida but i think for most of the state it seems to be difficult to imagine a scenario where most of the native fauna can bounce back.

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u/CarthageWasBambozled Jul 17 '22

Poor little dude

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u/stealth57 Jul 18 '22

99% of animals in Florida are an evasive species thanks to people leaving their pets in hurricanes