Words by Jeremy LeBeuf
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The Australian Green Tree Frog is a fantastic and beautiful-looking creature with cartoon-like features. With their charm, their harmless nature and distinct physical characteristics, there is no doubt why many people are enchanted by them.
As the story goes, often portrayed in fairy tales, it is believed that one single kiss from a frog is enough to turn the affable amphibian into a handsome prince. Unfortunately, this has been debunked as it is scientifically impossible for the itsy frog to transform into an 80-kilogram human. I know, what a disappointment!
However, if you’ve ever seen a little green tree frog you know it’s a special experience every time – there’s something truly magical about these emerald marvels!
As hopping cute as they are, they’re so much more than that. Here are some cool reasons to love the Green Tree Frog.
THEY HAVE SOME CRAZY SKILLS
They would fit right into the Marvel Cinematic Universe no problem with their super awesome abilities. Green Tree Frogs can climb smooth surfaces by clinging with their belly skin and the pads on their toes.
They have been known to jump at least 30 times their body length and some smaller tree frogs can jump up to 50 times their body weight. That is so amazing it would send Spiderman’s spidey sense tingling like a frog in a sock.
FROG LUCK, IT’S A THING
Throughout time there has been much folklore, superstitions, and myths that surround these little green gems. Among the many meanings associated with this small critter are abundance, well-being, financial success, and good fortune.
It is a favourable omen when a frog shows up in your life, so go ahead and take some risks when you have an important decision and there is a frog in the house, what could go wrong?
CAN FROGS FALL IN LOVE?
It has been caught all over the internet of frogs holding a loving embrace or cuddling cutely on a lily pad getting lost in the love for each other. Hopeless romantics and lovestruck fools would be convinced that these feverish frogs possessed romantic feelings for each other.
Sadly, not true. Frogs do not have the needed biological capabilities to love each other. They live a solitary existence and come together only at mating time. Relationships are overrated anyway, am I right?
THEY KNOW HOW TO SWEET TALK
A frog’s song of a loud ‘werk, werk, werk’ means you are lucky enough to be host
to a green tree frog. Yes, it can be loud and somewhat annoying when you’re trying to sleep but hey you have a new backyard buddy and a healthy ecosystem, congratulations.
They can serenade with a slow ‘brawk- brawk-brawk’ to call out to potential mates, oh la la! And on a more sinister side, they will scream when they are in danger, to scare off a predator.
THEY ARE ADORABLE
This needs no explanation whatsoever, I mean just look at them, awwwww.
But this brings us to our next point...
THE SKIN-NY ON GREEN TREE FROGS
First rule: Look, don’t touch. You see they have extremely porous skin that they absorb oxygen through, so too much handling of a Green Tree Frog without proper care could really hurt the poor little hoppers.
If you spot a laidback frog while having fun in the backyard of the tropical north, give it space, nobody likes to be poked, Ouch!
THEY MAKE THE BEST YARD GUESTS
Aside from being crazy cool, there are a few reasons why you’d want frogs in your yard. They feast on insects like slugs, grubs, mosquitos, and other pests, making them an eco-friendly, non-toxic alternative to pesticides and chemical insect repellents.
Think of your backyard as an all-you-can- eat buffet for frogs. Can you believe one frog can eat up to 100 insects in a day. Doing a little calculation that’s roughly 10,000 bugs a season, that’s a lot of buzzing bugs.
Because most amphibians are endangered, creating a place for them to prosper is a wonderful way to help restore their population.
CREATING A GREEN SANCTUARY IN YOUR BACKYARD
Contrary to what perhaps one of the world’s most famous frogs, Kermit, might say “It’s not easy being green”, well it is if you do these croak-tastic things and in a jiffy green frogs will be having a ribbit-ing good time in your backyard.
LIMIT OR STOP USING PESTICIDES
Real talk, using these chemicals in the garden or lawn can be really harmful to the very frogs you are trying to attract. As mentioned above, frogs have permeable skin and these weed-killing substances can really hurt your friendly frogs.
PROVIDE A WATER SOURCE
Oh froggy, do they love water, in fact, they need moisture to survive, so providing a shallow, non-moving water source will bring all the froggies to the yard.
GARDEN LIGHTS AND PATIO LANTERNS AT NIGHT
Shedding some light during the night attracts bugs, frogs think they are super yummy! As frogs hunt at night, they will thank you for having a well-lit area where these bugs will hang around making catching them all the easier.