CONTENTS
February 1995
Rayne, Louisiana: Frog Capital of the World
Bullfrogs on the Decline in Ontario...
It's a Bird.. It's a Plane... No, It's a Bullfrog!
RAYNE, LOUISIANA - FROG CAPITAL OF THE WORLD
While travelling to Atchafalaya Swamp in Louisiana, I found a city that I thought would be of interest to those who like frogs. I think that you will see that Ratne's reputation as the world's frog capital is well deserved. Rayne's frogs also provides an opportunity to tell all the students across Ontario about concerns over the decline of our own bullfrog populations.
I was surprised to learn that Canada had a past link with the people who settled this area of Louisiana - French speaking Acadians expelled from Nova Scotia in 1760. The importance of the railroad in the development of the first settlement is reflected in the selection the town's name in honour of Rayne, the civil engineer who constructed the railroad which passes through Rayne. The Pucheu family, who collected and shipped frogs and other wild game to markets in New Orleans, were the originators of the frog shipping business that drew attention to the giant bullfrogs of Rayne. These frogs were plentiful in the warm waters of Louisiana wetlands. In the early 1900's three brothers, Jacques, Edmond, and Gautran Weil arrived from France and settled in Rayne. The Jacques Weil Frog Company soon shipped frogs across the United states by rail and with the expansion of the Weil brothers' business to France, Rayne became know as "the frog capital of the world".
The overcollection of bullfrogs, the conversion of wetlands for growing rice, and the increased use of pesticides to control insects (including mosquitoes and invertebrates that feed on the rice plants) resulted in a decline in numbers of frogs for export. Although early attempts at "farming" bullfrogs in ponds constructed to breed and raise frogs seemed productive, frog collecting shifted to other states and countries. Now Rayne celebrates its past with a frog festival held each September and with the frog murals which attracted me to Rayne in the first place. The murals, in full colour and large enough to cover the sides of buildings, are discovered as you drive and walk around the city.
We were fortunate to meet the friendly staff at Rayne's City Hall. Upon hearing of our interest in frogs and of the school Adopt-A-Pond programme, they arranged a visit with the Mayor of Rayne, Ralph Stutes. Mayor Stutes was pleased to talk with us and presented me with a colourful blue and green frog patch which identifies the local police force. Upon returning home, I was surprised to receive in the mail a "Honorary Frog Catcher" certificate issued by Mayor Stutes.
The Cajun food and music of the Lafayette area is not easily forgotten. But do not miss the true hospitality of Rayne, Louisiana, the Frog Captial of the World! Let me share some of the many frog murals with you in this special edition of Amphibian Voice...
BULLFROGS IN DECliNE IN ONTARIO...
Many people have noticed that bullfrogs are no longer seen or heard as often as they once were. In some cases, their delightful booming bass call sounding like someone calling for a "JUG OF RUMMM...JUG OF RUMMM..." is not heard at all! At a recent meeting sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, scientists demonstrated that in some populations the size of bullfrogs has actually decreased.
It is hard to imagine that North America's largest frog could disappear from some areas of our province. We all have a role to play in ensuring that there is healthy habitat for all wetland species no matter how common they may appear to be at this time. Schools are found in every community in Ontario and students are well placed to notice changes that may indicate more serious problems with wetland environments. If you have seen a decrease in bullfrogs (OR ANY OTHER FROG) in your area write to tell us. If your bullfrogs appear to be doing well, and you can still enjoy those wonderful summertime calls, write us to tell us where you live. We will pass on your information to the Ministry of Natural Resources.
We have a tape of frogs calls and a poster of Ontario amphibians that we will send to your school so that you can identify all the amphibians found in your local wetlands. We want to hear from you if you want our poster and tape and book entitled For the Love of Frogs, if you do not already have one. ( A new teachers guide to wetland issues and amphibian declines, based on objectives set out in the Common Curriculum, and a homeowners guide to Frog-friendly backyards will be available free of charge in the spring of 1995). In the meantime send us your bullfrog reports and drawings. We will publish these in an upcoming issue of "Amphibian Voice".
Now enjoy the wonderful frog murals of Rayne, and perhaps these will inspire your own bullfrog drawings and poems!
IT'S A BIRD! IT'S A PLANE! NO, IT'S A BULLFROG!
In Ontario, Bullfrogs are generally found in habitats south of Sault Ste. Marie. At 10 - 15 cm. this is Ontario's largest frog Bullfrogs prefer the shorelines of lakes, bays, large beaver ponds and the mouths of slow-moving rivers. Bullfrogs are brown or greenish-brown in colour and the males have yellow throats, especially in early summer.
Hey! This is My Pad!
In June and July, Bullfrogs prepare for the breeding season by establishing terrtories along shorelines. At dusk they call from a favourite location, or, more often, while floating at the surface of the water. If another male approaches too closely, the resident male warns the intruder with a special challenge or encounter call.[ If the warning is ignored, they both become more aggressive and jump at each other, push, lock arms, kick and try to flip each other over. Most intruding males will leave after hearing the encounter call and avoid the need for any physical contact.\
The Love Shack
Mating begins in June and July once the males' territories are established and loud calls are given to attract females to good breeding locations. The call of the bullfrog is a deep, booming sound that may be described by the phrase "Jug O'Rum, Jug O'Rum" heard from some distance. Although female bullfrogs breed within a few days of arriveing, there are always new females arriveing at the breeding area so that the males call and maintain territories during an extended period of months.
Female bullfrogs choose which male they wish to breed with. As the female xtrudes approximately 8,000 eggs, the male collects small groups of 30 to 60 by cupping them in his hind legs. After fertilizing the eggs, he pushes them away with an outstroke of his hind legs, thus preparing for the next group of eggs.
Tadpole Mania
Tadpoles hatch hatch from the eggs approximately two to five days after being laid in warm water. Tadpoles are vegetarians and they feed on bottom *sediments* or by rasping algae and protozoans off rocks and plants. It takes one to two years before bullfrog tadpoles transform into frogs, and they must grow 10 to 15 centimetres before they transform.
Bullfrogs Abroad
The young male frogs generally become sexually active after one year, and females after two years. Adult bullfrogs will eat almost anything smaller than themselves including frogs, snakes, turtles, small birds and dragonflies. All reptiles and amphibians grow throughout their lives, although at a much reduced rate once they reach adulthood. As a result, the older a bullfrog is, the larger it is. Bullfrogs normally only live an average of five years in the wild, but have been found to live up to fifteen years in captivity.