frequently asked questionsFrogsWhat’s needed to overwinter frogs? Depending on the species, frogs hibernate either under water (e.g., the bullfrog or northern leopard frog) or on land (e.g., the spring peeper or striped chorus frog). If they hibernate under water, they will only survive if the pond doesn’t freeze completely. Generally, the recommended depth to prevent complete freezing is two metres but this varies by location. At least one section of the pond should be below the frost line. If the pond is not deep enough, it is possible to keep it from freezing by using a pond aerator, de-icer, or waterfall. It’s also a good idea to leave some debris on the bottom of the pond. If your pond lacks debris, you can put some clay soil in a pan and sink it to the bottom. You can help frogs that hibernate on land by placing piles of leaves, in which they can overwinter, in garden areas around the pond. If you’re not sure what type of frog you have, add leaf piles just in case, since leaves are good for the garden anyway. To ensure the survival of frogs, be sure to have lots of hiding places in both your pond and garden. Plants in your pond will protect eggs and tadpoles from fish. PVC pipe and clay pots will also serve as protection in both your garden and pond. How can I obtain frogs for my pond?Frogs or toads should not be purchased or collected from the wild, since it can be very difficult to reproduce their exact habitat needs. There are a number of habitat requirements you can fulfil in your own backyard that will allow frogs to find shelter on their own. There is additional information at: http://www.wildaboutgardening.org/en/dig_dwell_den/section2/index.htm http://www.torontozoo.com/adoptapond/ We have a pond in our garden that is stocked with goldfish. Recently, it has been inhabited by frogs and toads with clumps of spawn amassed in the weeds. Are they likely to be a threat to the fish? Frogs are a very important component of a healthy ecosystem and help humans greatly through their consumption of insects. They help control populations of mosquitoes and crop-damaging insects. Tadpoles live in the water, feeding on algae and broken-down plant material. They grow quickly and eventually metamorphose into small frogs. Frogs eat large quantities of insects but also eat worms and anything small enough to be swallowed whole. If you have very large frogs, i.e., bullfrogs, it is possible that they could eat some of the smaller fish, but only if the fish venture into the really shallow areas in easy reach of the frogs. Frogs are basically predators of opportunity, mostly catching flying insects when looking up. They will only eat creatures smaller than themselves.Fish will often feed on the eggs of frogs. Generally it’s advised that you don’t introduce fish to a pond for frogs, since they will eat the frog’s eggs. However, it could be that your pond has enough plants and other shelter in it that the frogs will be able to survive. Amphibian populations are declining worldwide. It’s important that we help protect their habitat and provide them with safe places to live.SnakesHow do I make a snake shelter?To help protect reptiles, the best thing to do is provide them with habitat with lots of hiding places. Brush piles, rock piles, or log piles are good snake hiding spots. Brush piles can be made using debris from your garden, such as tree clippings and branches. A base of rocks and logs enhances the effect. Simply creating a mound of rocks and stones of different sizes can make a rock pile. Be sure to create one that has various openings. You can add pieces of pipe or chimney tile to create tunnels. Snakes will also use the rocks as sunbathing sites. Log piles are also very easy to make. In a protected spot — under a tree or against a fence or wall — arrange logs of varying sizes on end with a few lying down. Spread woodchips, leaves, and twigs around to enhance the area. Flowerpots, bricks, rocks, and pipes can also be added to increase the number of hiding spots. Allowing a corner of your yard to go a little wild with long grass and wildflowers will also provide good cover for reptiles and other critters. Click here for more information on how you can provide winter care for reptiles.How can I discourage snakes from my yard?Snakes are very beneficial and many see them as welcome guests to gardens since they indicate healthy rodent populations. However, if you have an inborn fear of these creatures, that probably doesn’t offer much comfort. To discourage their presence in the immediate vicinity of your house, remove all ground cover that offers shelter possibilities, including logs and woodpiles, weeds, brush piles, rocks, etc. You’ll also want to clear away any material from under decks. In addition, you can lure them away from your immediate area by creating shelter for them in a far corner of your yard. Leave the area a bit wild by keeping grasses longer and building rock and log piles. This will create an area that’s sure to draw the attention of snakes. There is additional information on our Web site at: http://www.wildaboutgardening.org/en/dig_dwell_den/section2/index.htm http://www.wildaboutgardening.org/en/attracting/section2/index.htm http://www.wildaboutgardening.org/en/features/section2/snake/snake.htm SquirrelsHow do I build a nesting box for squirrels? Squirrels nest either in tree cavities or in leaf nests that they build in the crotches of trees. In areas where trees are scarce, you can offer them an alternative by putting up a nesting box. On average, one nesting box is enough for a typical urban backyard. You can find this answer in our Backyard Habitat for Canada’s Wildlife book. A summary of the instructions for building a nesting box for backyard squirrels follows. For longevity, use softwoods for your building material since they resist weathering better than hardwoods. Lumber that is 2.5 cm (1 inch) thick is fine. Never use pressure-treated wood, since it can be toxic to wildlife. *The dimensions for a nesting box are as follows:
How can I prevent squirrels from chewing and making the holes of my birdhouses larger? If you’re having a problem with squirrels chewing their way into your birdhouses, try adding a ring made of sheet metal around the entrance hole. This is typically enough to keep squirrels out and birds safe. How can I keep squirrels away from my bird feeders? Squirrels are definitely an issue for many people who enjoy bird feeding. They’re wily and agile and difficult to outsmart. The most successful method of thwarting squirrels is to mount the feeder on a pole with a baffle below the feeder. That way, the squirrel gets part way up the pole but can’t get around the baffle. Make sure the feeder is far enough away from any launching points, such as trees or fences, so the squirrels can’t jump to the feeder. Squirrels keep digging up my flower boxes. How can I stop them from doing this? Squirrels could be doing this either to bury/retrieve peanuts or to get at bulbs/roots. It’s not recommended to feed squirrels peanuts, since they carry these peanuts away only to bury them in your or your neighbor’s garden. It’s doubtful squirrels remember where they buried their peanuts so, if you want to provide food for them, use sunflower seeds —squirrels are more likely to eat these on the spot. You can prevent squirrels from digging in flower boxes by using a number of different repellants. Some of these will have to be reapplied often, especially after it rains. |