Figuring out how to get rid of frogs in your yard can be stressful. Frogs, while harmless in most cases, can congregate in your yard quickly and in great numbers, which for some is an irritating sight.
Extracting frogs from your property involves a range of tactics from the removal of frog shelters, and removal of standing water and wet areas, as well as minimizing the insect population in your yard. Frogs can’t survive without shelter, water, and food.
There are other factors and considerations that can come into play too, which is exactly what I’ll be sharing in this article about how to get rid of frogs in your yard. In this article, I’ll share seven tips on how to get rid of frogs in yards quickly and safely.
Key Takeaways:
- Frogs are attracted to yards with water sources, damp areas, and overgrown vegetation, which provide shelter and food for them.
- Getting rid of frogs can help reduce the risk of disease transmission, avoid potential poisoning from toxic frog species, and prevent attracting snakes to the yard.
- Natural methods, such as removing shelter and water sources, controlling insect populations, and attracting beneficial predators, can effectively deter frogs from your yard without harming the environment.
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What Attracts Frogs To Your Yard
Frogs are attracted to habitats that provide shelter, food, and breeding areas. It’s possible that your yard, if not well-maintained, is an ideal environment for frogs.
Pools and Ponds
Frogs depend on bodies of water for several reasons. Firstly, they need to keep a certain level of moisture in and on their bodies, so they like to take a dip every once in a while.
Another reason frogs need water is that there are so many insects around bodies of water. They use it as a breeding ground, which provides frogs with a buffet of food.
The final reason for their water dependence is reproduction – about half of all frog species lay their eggs in water, while others lay their eggs in moist vegetation or in the ground.
For these reasons, frogs don’t wander far away from water sources if they can be avoided. In the wild, they’re mostly seen around ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, and swamps.
However, if you have an uncovered pool or a pond – frogs will be naturally attracted to them as they don’t see the difference between a pool and a natural body of water.
Damp or Boggy Ground
Since some frogs are known to burrow, they prefer boggy ground to dry soil. They don’t have a lot of strength behind their tiny legs and digging is a tiresome job for them. As such, digging into the damp ground is far easier than digging into the arid ground.
Another reason frogs like damp ground are because they need to constantly maintain their levels of moisture. Frog skin is semi-permeable and they’re susceptible to dehydration.
Frogs that live in arid areas have made adaptations to survive, but most frogs like to stick around damp grounds and moist environments.
Leafy Areas or Long Grass
Overgrown vegetation is a great way for frogs to camouflage and stay hidden from predators. Areas with unraked leaves provide camouflage in a similar way.
In the wild, frogs will often hide in dense vegetation during the day, while you can also find them under rocks and in bushes. If you have a thick hedge, a frog might use it for shelter during the day.
On top of camouflage, overgrown vegetation is an ideal breeding ground for many insects, which provides frogs with food.
Insects
Frogs feed primarily on insects of all kinds as long as they can break the outer shell with their mouths. Exceptionally large frogs will eat snails and slugs, but most frogs stick to insects.
Bugs and tiny critters are easy pickings and are highly unlikely to fight back. Additionally – there’s usually an abundance of insects, so it’s not difficult for frogs to establish a base.
If you have an infestation of bugs in your home, you could be unwittingly inviting frogs too. Once established, frogs are unlikely to leave an area that has a stable supply of food and shelter.
Reasons to Get Rid of Frogs from Your Yard or Pool
People often say – so what? What’s the problem with having frogs in your yard? They’re going to keep the insect population in control and they’re not dangerous for people.
It’s a bit more complex than that, as there are a few serious reasons you should eradicate a frog population from forming in your yard.
Risk of Disease
Believe it or not – both wild frogs and pet frogs are vectors for disease, especially salmonella. Contracting this disease isn’t even that difficult, which is why we’re constantly reminded to wash our hands after touching any wild animal.
It is even possible to not have to even touch the animal carrying the disease to get infected – simply dipping your hand in the water in which the animal lives can also cause infection. This is why frogs are especially dangerous for people who have pools.
A frog could also take a dip in your dog’s water bowl and infect the dog through that channel.
Frogs Can Be Poisonous
Most poisonous frogs live in the jungles and woodlands of Central and South America, so you’re not likely to come across them unless you go on an expedition.
Most of these frogs have incredibly lively colors, warning predators not to touch them, but some people naively touch them and get hurt.
Some toxins are mild and only cause minor irritation and human poisoning is thankfully rare. However, when a frog predator eats the frog, it can die, or at least suffer serious poisoning with long-term effects. This is due to toxins that synthesize on the surface of the frog’s skin.
Attracting Snakes
Frogs attract snakes the same way insects attract frogs. On top of offering prey, if your yard has still water and overgrown vegetation, it becomes a great hunting ground for a snake.
Aside from frogs, you might accidentally attract snakes to the yard if you have mice or lizards.
Noise
People often forget that the most recognizable thing about frogs is their call – this type of call is unique to frogs. They’re almost always mating calls, but there are territorial calls that can be heard up to a mile away. Just imagine that in your backyard every evening!
Research from the digital library JSTOR reports that peak levels of frog calls can reach 120 decibels. That’s the same level of sound as a Jackhammer or live concert.
Risk of Invasion
The final reason you should get rid of frogs as soon as possible is the risk of invasion. Frogs will mate in your yard if you allow them, and pretty soon you’ll have an entire horde of these little amphibians shrieking all night long.
How to Get Rid of Frogs Naturally
Here’s how to get rid of frogs in your backyard naturally that can be undertaken without calling in the professionals.
Remove Shelter
Leaf piles, rock piles, wood piles, logs, tree stumps…all of these are potential frog shelters. If they’re not absolutely necessary, remove them from your yard and the frogs will have nowhere to live.
Remove Wet or Damp Areas
First of all – if you have a pool in your yard, you absolutely must cover it. If not, you’re essentially inviting frogs to your home.
Secondly, if there are particularly wet areas in your yard because of irrigation, you have to let them dry. Frogs are deterred by non-wet areas. They don’t even have to be arid – just not wet.
Make a Barrier
If frogs are constantly coming in from a single direction, install a fence with a dense mesh. While frogs are great jumpers, they can’t bite or power through a fence that’s too dense for them. Just make sure that the fence is tall enough that they can’t jump over it.
Discourage Night-time Insect Visits
Frogs follow insects, and if you have an insect zapper, bugs will congregate around the zapper. This will invite frogs, which feed on both dead and living insects.
The same can be said for regular lights – turn them off during the night, as they’ll attract insects, and in return – frogs.
Home Remedies to Get Rid of Frogs
Avoid using repellents that contain DEET on frogs – while they’re effective, they’re also harmful to frogs as well as other animals. Instead, consider making homemade remedies.
A solution of water and vinegar (3:1) is an option and one that frogs naturally dislike because of its intense scent.
The only issue with home remedies such as this one is that frogs are highly mobile animals and they’ll simply hop away. You’d have to cover your entire home with it to work for a long time.
Other Ways to Get Rid of Frogs
There are more ‘permanent’ solutions to ridding your yard of frogs. Here’s a look at some popular choices.
Pesticides
There are frog-specific pesticides that usually come in the form of food bait that, once ingested, poisons the frog and kills it. While this method is effective, it should only be used as a last resort.
Keep in mind that the use of pesticides can not only affect frog populations but also harm other animals too.
Invite Predators
Beneficial predators, such as birds, regularly feed on frogs and they’ll take care of your frog problem in a far more eco-friendly way.
Frogs are an important link in the diet chain, and therefore, attracting birds – while lethal to frogs – isn’t detrimental to the environment.
How to Prevent a Frog Infestation
It’s best to end the infestation before it ever starts – here’s how to do it.
Turn Off Night-Time Lights
Keep outside lights turned off permits much as possible. This will significantly lower the chance of a stable insect population forming. Put simply, no insects mean no food for frogs.
Mow Your Lawn to Keep It Short
Maintain your yard and your garden by mowing your lawn regularly to prevent frogs from getting cozy. They like overgrown vegetation as it provides protection, but if you keep the lawn short, they’re easily detectable and they’ll avoid your yard.
A shorter lawn also invites fewer insects as there are no breeding areas, so you’re also cutting off the food source.
Clear Standing Water & Improve Drainage
If there’s no stable body of water, there won’t be any reproduction. On top of that, there’ll be fewer insects, and the frogs won’t have a place to remoisturize. They’re absolutely dependent on water and they can’t survive without it.
Clear out the puddles of standing water and improve drainage and aeration in your yard to prevent water from collecting again.
In addition, cover your pool and think about filling in the pond.
Control Insect Population
Take all necessary precautions to keep insects away from your home – turn the lights off, maintain the garden, use insecticides if necessary, and plant insect-deterring plants (such as lavender).
If there aren’t any insects in your yard, you’re more likely to have a frog-free yard.
Final Thoughts: How to Get Rid of Frogs in Yard
Unruly frog populations in your yard are annoying as they’re incredibly noisy, they attract other animals, and they carry diseases (not to mention that some of them are poisonous).
However, they can be controlled by maintaining your yard, keeping the vegetation short, clearing out frog shelters, and removing standing water, which is a major attractant.
To prevent frogs from returning to your yard, keep managing your yard and garden, control the population of insects, and install a fence with a dense mesh that won’t be easily jumped over.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Keeps Frogs Away From Your House?
To deter frogs from your home, you can remove water sources, you can limit their hiding spots, install mesh sensing, and focus on reducing your insect population. By removing things that attract frogs in the first place you can keep them away from your home.
What Does It Mean When There Are A Lot Of Frogs In Your Yard?
Having a lot of frogs in your yard can indicate a healthy and balanced ecosystem. Frogs are beneficial as they consume insects, slugs, and other pests, helping to naturally control their populations. Frogs in your yard can be an indicator of a thriving environment with ample food sources and suitable habitat conditions, such as water sources and vegetation.
How Do I Keep Frogs Away At Night?
To keep frogs away at night, you can use outdoor lighting strategically, create or install noise deterrents, and you can keep all windows and doors closed.
Does Salt Get Rid Of Frogs?
No, using salt to get rid of frogs is not recommended. Salt can harm frogs and other amphibians. Direct contact with salt can cause dehydration and damage their skin. I recommend finding other ways to keep frogs from getting into your yard, such as removing their food and water sources or modifying the habitat to make it less appealing for them.
How can I get rid of frogs in my yard?
There are several methods to get rid of frogs in your yard. You can use frog repellent, kill the frogs, or relocate them.
What are the different species of frogs?
There are over 500 species of frogs, including tree frogs, native frogs, and other types of frogs. Each species may have different habits and behaviors. Here is a list of frog and toad species you can reference.
Can I use snake repellent to deter frogs?
Yes, snake repellent can be effective in deterring frogs as well. Frogs are attracted to snake repellent, so it can help keep them away from your yard.
How can I relocate frogs?
To relocate frogs, you can catch them using traps or by hand and release them in a suitable habitat away from your yard. Be sure to release them in a safe and appropriate environment.
Will killing frogs solve my frog infestation problem?
Killing frogs may temporarily solve your frog infestation problem, but it is not a long-term solution. It’s important to address the root causes of the infestation and take preventative measures to deter frogs from returning.
How can I make my yard less attractive to frogs?
To make your yard less attractive to frogs, you can remove standing water, keep your yard clean and free of debris, reduce the presence of insects that frogs eat, and eliminate hiding places for frogs.
Can frogs lay their eggs in my pool or pond?
Yes, frogs can lay their eggs in pools or ponds. They are attracted to bodies of water for breeding purposes. Taking measures to deter frogs from your pool or pond can help prevent unwanted frog breeding.
How can I prevent frogs from laying their eggs in my yard?
To prevent frogs from laying their eggs in your yard, you can remove standing water, use lights at night to deter them, and make your yard less attractive to frogs by reducing their food sources.
How can I kill the frogs without harming the environment?
There are environmentally friendly pest control methods available to kill frogs without harming the environment. These methods typically target specific frog species and use safe and natural ingredients.
What are some natural ways to deter frogs from my yard?
Some natural ways to deter frogs from your yard include using vinegar or ammonia solutions, creating noise or vibrations around your yard, and placing physical barriers around the perimeter of your yard.