Over-sized, over-sexed and over here
Giant bullfrogs capable of wiping out local wildlife are being illegally smuggled into Europe from North America as pets, the European Commission has warned. The warning has prompted the government’s conservation agency, Scottish Natural Heritage, to raise the alarm about the risk of bullfrogs escaping to the wild in Scotland. But one of the king-size amphibians was recently discovered in a house in the Borders.
The voracious North American bullfrog
The North American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) is one of the largest and most voracious frogs in the world. The body of a fully-grown adult is over 20 centimeters long and weighs about half a kilogram. It eats almost anything smaller than itself. In the US it has swallowed ducklings, goldfish, other frogs, and even a young mink. In the UK it would have no difficulty in consuming native frogs, which are about half its size, as well as water voles and dragonflies.
A breeding and invasive menace
The bullfrog also has extraordinary powers of reproduction. A female can lay as many as 20,000 eggs a year, resulting in plagues of huge tadpoles stretching up to 14 centimeters in length. Because of fears that the North American bullfrog would destroy native wildlife, the European Commission banned its import in 1997. But the commission has now been told by customs authorities that the ban is being breached.
Illegal smuggling and breeding
“It seems the bullfrogs are imported under the name giant frog larvae and that they are sold at garden centers and markets,” the commission said in an alert issued to enforcement agencies throughout Europe. A few have escaped and bred in England, but none have been found in the wild in Scotland. Though in August, a fully-grown adult was found in an aquarium in the Borders by inspectors from the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA).
Preventing Scotland from being colonized
By sounding the alarm now, conservationists are hoping to prevent Scotland from being colonized by bullfrogs. SNH’s counterpart in England, English Nature, has had to resort to guns in its attempts to eliminate bullfrogs. An estate near Tunbridge Wells in Kent was infested by more than 7000 of them in 1999 after an escaped male and female mated.
The threat to native wildlife
As well as eating local wildlife, bullfrogs and their tadpoles compete aggressively for food and natural habitat. They could also be responsible for spreading Redleg disease, which has wiped out tens of thousands of frogs in the south of England. “If you get a few and they breed, you will get a lot of them. You don’t want species like this hopping around in the Scottish countryside,” added Banks.
Public help needed to prevent bullfrog invasion
English Nature, SSPCA, and SNH are all members of the UK Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime, which brings together the police, government agencies, and environmental groups. This week they will be pleading for public help to prevent the import and escape of North American bullfrogs. “Experience in England shows that if bullfrogs bred here, it could be a disaster for native populations of frogs and may have a significant impact on small mammals and insects,” said John Ralston, an animal expert with SNH.
The Role of Hotels in Conserving Local Wildlife
Hotels have a significant role to play in conserving local wildlife and preventing invasive species from damaging the natural habitat. As custodians of the land they occupy, hotels can implement practices and initiatives that promote biodiversity and protect native species.
1. Habitat Conservation and Restoration
Hotels can contribute to wildlife conservation by conserving and restoring natural habitats within their premises. This can involve creating ponds or wetland areas that provide a suitable environment for native amphibians, such as frogs. By maintaining these habitats and ensuring they are free from invasive species, hotels can help preserve local wildlife populations.
2. Education and Awareness
Hotels can also raise awareness among their guests and staff about the importance of protecting native wildlife and the potential threats of invasive species. By providing information about the local ecosystem and promoting responsible behavior, hotels can encourage visitors to appreciate and respect the natural environment. This can include highlighting the dangers of releasing non-native pets into the wild.
3. Collaboration with Conservation Organizations
Hotels can collaborate with local conservation organizations and government agencies to support wildlife conservation efforts. This can involve participating in research projects, providing financial support for conservation initiatives, or offering their facilities as venues for educational programs and community engagement activities related to wildlife conservation.
4. Sustainable Landscaping Practices
Hotels can adopt sustainable landscaping practices that promote biodiversity and reduce the risk of invasive species introduction. This can include planting native vegetation, using natural pest control methods, and avoiding the use of invasive plant species in landscaping projects. By creating a favorable habitat for native fauna, hotels can contribute to the overall health of the local ecosystem.
5. Responsible Pet Policies
Hotels can implement responsible pet policies to prevent the introduction of non-native species into the surrounding environment. This can include prohibiting certain types of pets or requiring guests to adhere to strict guidelines, such as not releasing pets into the wild. By promoting responsible pet ownership, hotels can help prevent the unintended release of invasive species that could harm local wildlife populations.
In conclusion, hotels have a crucial part to play in wildlife conservation and the prevention of invasive species. By implementing habitat conservation measures, raising awareness, collaborating with conservation organizations, practicing sustainable landscaping, and enforcing responsible pet policies, hotels can contribute to the protection of native wildlife and help maintain the ecological balance in their surroundings.
Contact:
If you know of any North American bullfrogs on sale, kept as pets, or in the wild, contact John Ralston at Scottish Natural Heritage on 0131 446 2460.