Rescuing Grass Frogs: A Tale from Waldshut-Tiengen
Each year, numerous grass frogs are cultivated in this sprawling green haven.
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In the garden of Doris Henselmann, an exceptional resident of Waldshut-Tiengen (Waldshut district), a peculiar obsession blooms every year: grass frogs. For more than a decade, these amphibians have captured her heart.
Doris, now 84, transforms her small garden pond into a vibrant nursery for frogspawn in the spring. Come springtime, she collects the frogspawn from the pond and nurtures the tadpoles in specially designed plastic boxes. She affectionately dubs them her "hotel" facilities, equipped with homemade bird protection grids.
Frog Haven: Full Board and Room Service
The guest rooms in the Henselmann family's garden are a haven for the animals. Three times a day, Doris feeds the frogs fish food and lettuce. Cooked romaine lettuce is the tadpoles' favorite, a fact she discovered over the years. Smaller tadpoles have a larger appetite. She diligently maintains the temperature in the boxes on cold days by using foam covers, ensuring there's enough oxygen in the water, and trusts her husband Heiner to regularly clean the boxes and refill fresh water when needed.
Silent Serenade: No Croaking from Hundreds of Frogs
The Henselmann gardenn boasts a diverse assortment of plants and animals, but grass frogs have a special place there. They are quiet animals, unlike water frogs, and do not croak. Predating upon the lightly-laid grass frog spawn makes them easy prey for other animals like fish, newts, grass snakes, or birds. So, few grass frogs survive, but Doris takes it upon herself to help boost their numbers.
Over the years, she has amassed a wealth of knowledge about grass frogs. Though it demands a significant effort, she finds it rewarding. Year after year, more sexually mature grass frogs return to Henselmann's garden, this year filling six large containers with frogspawn.
From Tadpole to Frog in Three Months
The Henselmann's nursery serves only during the metamorphosis period. Growing legs takes a few weeks for the tadpoles, marking the start of their transition from water-bound creatures to land-dwellers. When the tadpoles can stand on their own legs, Doris releases them slowly at the edge of the garden. The slight frogs display a spectrum of behavior—some jump out eagerly, while others choose to sit for a while before embarking on their leap.
By mid-June, all grass frogs usually depart. The Henselmanns can then return their nursery to the garage, enjoying their summer in their green oasis. If she had known how fascinating it would be, she would have pursued a career in biology, she admits today. Regardless, she hopes for many frogs to find their way back to her garden each spring, so she can help their offspring survive.
Insights:
- Grass frogs are known in continental Europe as Rana temporaria or simply the common frog.
- Grass frogs breed in spring when water temperatures reach about 14°C (57°F), laying large clusters of eggs - typically 1,000 to 4,000 - in ponds or other standing water bodies.
- Tadpoles hatch quickly and are vulnerable to predators, including insects, fish, and birds.
- After metamorphosis, juvenile frogs leave the water and adopt a terrestrial lifestyle for about three months, during which they grow into adults.
- Grass frogs are an essential part of temperate ecosystems and sensitive indicators of environmental health, making their presence and abundance important indicators for ecosystem quality.
Alternative Version:
Considering the charming journey of grass frogs in Doris Henselmann's garden, one can't deny the admirable passion she harbors for these fascinating creatures. Every spring, this 84-year-old resident of Waldshut-Tiengen spends tireless days transforming her small garden pond into a bustling nursery for its tiniest residents, the tadpoles.
With her husband Heiner's assistance, she diligently feeds them fish food and lettuce, cleans the boxes, and even ensures the water is fresh and well-oxygenated. Her perseverance clearly shows in the returning grass frogs year after year, with more sexually mature pairs returning each year to spawn.
The life of grass frogs is a complex one, with tadpoles transforming into adults in about three months and then heading off into the wider world. However, Doris' efforts to keep a few in her nursery are an inspiring example of compassion and conservation.
Sources:
- AmphibiaWeb. Rana temporaria. Accessed on April 15, 2023. https://amphibiaweb.org/species/Rana/temporaria/info/443
- IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. Rana temporaria. Accessed on April 15, 2023. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/7768/21382002
- Doris Henselmann's home-and-garden transformation each spring serves as a lifestyle choice, as she meticulously cares for the grass frogs, creating a vibrant nursery for their tadpoles.
- Regardless of her age, Doris' passion for gardening extends beyond flowers and plants, as she focuses on assisting the life cycle of grass frogs in her home-and-garden, providing them with a nurturing environment.
