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Buster, an American
Bullfrog, was introduced into my habitat as a tadpole in August of 1998. I
had purchased half dozen tadpoles to aid in my ongoing effort to curtail the
growth of unwanted algae in my small pond. This was an annual ritual on my
part. Every year September would roll around, and after that, I never saw
the frogs. One by one, the tadpoles turned into little frogs. I would see
one for a week or two, and then would see it no more. By the end of August,
only one remained. I was getting concerned because cold weather was fast
approaching and the little frog was still hanging around. He was becoming
quite tame and I was getting quite attached. A frog personality was
definitely developing here. Finally, to my sadness, the little frog
disappeared.
Winter had come and gone and the promise of spring was becoming quite
evident as the crocuses pushed their way through the earth to reach for the
sun. Once again it was time to ready the pond for the coming season. My
thoughts often turned to the little frog, and how much he would be missed.
I was busy planting flowers when I heard it. Plop! That was it, just one.
It was unmistakable, the sound of a frog jumping into the water. A short
wait ensued, and finally he came up for air. There was no doubt about it,
this frog was right at home. The little frog had returned home to his pond.
I named him Buster.
Turned out that the name was perfect. By the middle of summer, he was
huge, and a very big hit with the rest of the family. Everyone enjoyed
watching his antics. He preferred to sit in the waterfall and let the water
trickle all around him, and we were able to hand feed him earthworms.
The pond was a popular place, not only for "Buster", but also for a wide
variety of birds. They would not only drink from the edge, but would also
make a habit of bathing in the waterfall. I began to notice a bird here and
there floating on the water surface. I was concerned because the pond had
been a feature in my habitat for a few years, yet I had never seen any avian
fatalities. It would not be long before the mystery was solved.
I was inside when I heard a bird's frantic cry for help. When I ran to
the window, all I could see was a bird struggling on the ponds surface. My
daughter and I ran out to the pond, but as we arrived at the edge, the bird
went under. We quickly put our hands in the water, quickly searching for the
distressed bird. Carol said she had it, and pulled it out of the water. To
our surprise, attached to the bird was Buster. We could not believe what we
saw. I did some very quick research, and yes, bullfrogs do eat birds. The
mystery was solved. We had seen nature in action, up close and personal.
I never did actually measure Buster. My best guess is that he would have
measured very close to a foot long. You could tell by his plumpness when he
had enjoyed a meal.
Summer turned into fall once again, and Buster was gone. I never thought
for a minute I would ever see him again. There was not any kind of sign that
he had hibernated in his own pond.
March rolled around and my thoughts turned once again to Buster. Would he
return home once again? I watched for about two weeks and I was ready to
give up. Carol arrived one rainy evening and I could tell by her face she
was upset. She said, "Mom, I don't know how to tell you this". For some
incredibly odd reason, I knew she was talking about Buster. "Buster is out
front in the road, and someone has run over him". I ran outside and sure
enough, there was Buster, smashed flat against the pavement. Needless to say
I was very upset. It was amazing to me that this frog was actually coming
home again, only to be cut down by some careless motorist. It was a
bittersweet moment for me. Put to rest in my backyard habitat, Buster will
fondly be remembered.
Bullfrogs should never be introduced into an area where they are not a
native species. If they are native to your area, and you have a pond, get
yourself a few tadpoles and have a look through nature's window. |
