F*cking Frogs

Today Sam and I made a little trip down to the local quarry to see if the tadpoles (or polliwogs – what’s the difference? Frog/toad?) were out and about yet. We took the shortcut through our neighbor’s backyards and up the road but heard the roar of the bullfrogs well before we reached the mosquito-breeding pond.

I regret that I didn’t think to bring the camera because it was a pretty amazing sight. There were balls of frogs – the huge female frogs surrounded by multiple males. Are the females huge because they’re filled with eggs? The unattached males were croaking frantically looking for available females. Oh, did I happen to mention that a couple of 10-year-old neighbor kids were there too? They weren’t quite sure what was happening there and I wasn’t sure how much I should explain. I’m afraid I was boringly factual with them.

Sam kept begging, “pick up a frog mama I want to see under him.” I decided to give it a try but there weren’t any unattached frogs anywhere nearby. I picked up a mating pair and dang! they stayed attached through me picking them up and showing it to Sam. There was long ribbon of slime-encased frog eggs still attached and wound around the pair of them. But did you notice I said they stayed attached the entire time? Now that seems somewhat contrary to the continuation of the species.

Don’t worry we’ll go back. And maybe we’ll even bring the camera.