I became aware of the need to protect our frogs when I read about how pesticides have been traveling from 50 to 100 miles to cause problems when they are ingested by frogs. I first came across this problem on the Care2 Causes site. The article, “Pesticides Travel 100 Miles to Poison Mountain Frogs” raises the flag about the dangers of pesticides and our natural environment. In Brad Balukjian’s 2013 article in the L.A. Times, he writes:
“Frogs living in remote mountain ponds in the Sierra Nevada are ingesting pesticides used to grow crops 50 to 100 miles away in California’s Central Valley, according to a study by government scientists. Researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey identified 10 distinct chemicals in the frogs’ tissues, including residues of DDT, an insecticide that’s been banned for more than 40 years.”
The trend is concerning and has been cited as being one of the causes of a decrease in the population of frogs, especially the Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog. A decline in the frog population means an increase in the insect population – which could create a large imbalance in the ecosystem.
In fact, frogs are so important that environmentalists often look to them to determine the health of our ecosystem.
Pesticides are not the only threat to frog populations. I looked to the organization, Save the Frogs! for more information on the challenges frog populations face and for information on what we can do to get involved.
Threats Facing Frogs
According to Save the Frogs!, threats to the frogs’ environments include:
- Over-harvesting:
- Pollution and pesticides:
- Climate change:
- Habitat destruction:
- Infectious diseases:
- Invasive species:
Nearly 1/3 of the world’s species of amphibians are on the brink of extinction.
Let me repeat that. Nearly 1/3 of the world’s species of amphibians are on the brink of extinction.
Once you let that fact set in, keep reading. There are things you can do to get involved and help save frog populations.
Get Involved and Help Save Frog Populations
Naturally, you can donate to Save The Frogs or become a member of the organization to help save populations, but there are other ways you can get involved.
Volunteer – The Save The Frogs website lists a variety of volunteer positions on a regular basis. Positions include:
- Art contest promoter
- Campus assistant
- Campaign assistant
- Database developer
- Film editor
- Film maker
- Fundraiser
- Graphic designer
- iPhone app developer
- Publicist
- Research assistant
- Website developer
Working with the organization as a volunteer can be done from anywhere. See the link above for more details on what positions entail, and to sign up as a volunteer.
You can fundraise, or serve as a sponsor or spread the word about saving the frogs. If event planning is more your thing, you could organize a Save The Frogs Day Event (or participate in one).
If you’re in need of a gift for a friend who loves frogs, consider shopping at the Save The Frogs store or donating an item from the organization’s wish list in your friend’s name.
What will you do to help save frog populations? Post your thoughts in the comments.
