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How To Get Rid Of Frogs In Your Yard & Pool | 2022 Buyer’s Guide

Generally, frogs do not inflict economic damage unless you are engaged in fish breeding. A few species, primarily the Cuban tree frog, Dart frogs and Cane toads, are poisonous to humans, but don’t naturally occur in the United States. While others don’t pose health hazards to humans. However, they do produce some skin secretions, which can be toxic to pets if ingested. Basically, frogs are nuisance pests because of the noise they produce and their ugly appearance.

While killing frogs on your property might seem an easy option, that isn’t quite the case. First of all, regulations on frog hunting vary from state to state. Depending on the state you live in and the season, killing some frog species may be illegal or limited. Besides, frogs are important to the ecosystem because they are both the predator and prey. They feed on a variety of pest insects, something that makes them particularly beneficial for plant and vegetable crops. And yet, when frogs invade your property in large numbers, they must be stopped.
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How to get rid of frogs? Well, there are several things you can do. If you have only a few frogs, you can remove them by handpicking or gigging, provided you do it in the hunting season. Raking up debris, pruning shrubs, and emptying containers with water is a great way to keep frogs away from your yard. You may set a trap, using “baits” with scientifically proven effectiveness, such as glow sticks. Creating barriers made with mesh hardware cloth will allow you to get rid of frogs in the pond. When it comes to swimming pools, we advise using a pool cover that is several feet larger than the pool itself. And yet, there is a universal method, spraying citric acid and hydrated lime. Will lime get rid of frogs? Yes, but it is more toxic to the environment and humans, whereas citric acid is a safer and more recommended option.

Milliard Citric Acid 10 Pound - 100% Pure Food Grade Non-GMO Project Verified(10 Pound)

We believe that the Milliard Citric Acid 10 Pound – 100% Pure Food Grade is the best choice. The product comes in 1-pound, 2-pound, 5-pound, and 10-pound sizes, with the latter being the most cost-efficient option. The powder easily dissolves in water and is highly effective. Making multiple applications, spray the soil in the daytime and foliage in the evening. The solution kills frogs upon contact and within minutes.

How to Get Rid of Frogs in Your Yard

Depending on the level of infestation, you may choose one of the following proven methods. For better results, we recommend not limiting to just one measure but rather taking an integrated approach.

Handpicking & Gigging

This method is effective only if you have a few frogs in your backyard. Do it at night, using a flashlight. The thing is that frog’s eyes have cells that reflect the light they catch. Therefore, you should keep the flashlight at the level of your eyes while searching for a frog. Keep in mind that these creatures tend to hide between leaves or in curled leaves.

Once you have detected a frog, approach it slowly, and grab it quickly. You may also gig the animal or cover it with a plastic tube. However, make sure that it is legal in your state and you do it in the proper season.

Frabill 2300 Deluxe Frog Gig Pole: photo
Frabill Deluxe Frog Gig Pole: photo

The Frabill 2300 Deluxe Frog Gig Pole will make it easier to kill these critters. Made from aluminum, the pole comes with an interchangeable head. It is a professionally made telescopic pole with a length of 8 feet. The head’s barbs are really sharp, so you will have no difficulty in catching a frog.

Make Your Yard Unattractive for Frogs

Since frogs are nocturnal, they spend much of the day in humid and shady places among leaves and rocks. Here is what you can do to eliminate these improvised shelters and get rid of frogs without harming them.

  • Remove dense vegetation and dry leaves so that they have fewer places to hide.
  • Rake up debris and prune shrubs.
  • Empty containers with stagnant water and fix any leaks.
  • Treat plants with hot water to remove both frogs and eggs.

Set a Trap to Catch Frogs

Some species of frogs, such as the coqui frog, can be successfully removed by trapping. Researchers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln recommend using small PVC tubes. However, they note that traps can catch only a small number of these critters. The best location for traps is along the perimeter of a fence. You can also use them to get rid of frogs on your porch.

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If your frogs are not very large, you may try the CaptSure Original Humane Traps. Simple to use, these traps are designed for catching rodents and can work for frogs as well. The pack includes two PVC traps with an entrance spring door and a bait compartment. Each trap is about 8 inches in length and 3 inches in width, so there is enough space for the average-sized frog.

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Scientists suggest placing glow sticks inside the trap. Not only do they attract frog visually, but they also draw various insects inside the trap. In their turn, these insects serve as a perfect bait for frogs. The 300 Glow Sticks Bulk Party Supplies will certainly do the job. These are super bright flexible glow sticks that can be used for multiple purposes, including trapping. The set contains 300 sticks, with each ensuring up to six hours of glowing light. This means that the sticks will illuminate your trap throughout the night, increasing the catch rate. They are made of high-quality non-toxic material and safe for kids.

Install a Fence to Keep Frogs and Toads Away

Wildlife Biologist Paul Moler claims that exclusion is effective for most frog species. He suggests placing a strip of mesh hardware cloth along the outside of the fence in your yard. The mesh should have 1/8-inch openings and be buried no less than four inches in the ground and extend about 20 inches above the ground. Wire mesh fencing is a good way to get rid of frogs in the pond. That said, such a fence is not a good option to keep treefrogs away because they can easily climb over barriers.

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The Garden Zone Galvanized Mesh Rolled Hardware Cloth is ideal for preventing nonclimbing species from entering your backyard. With  1/8-inch openings, the mesh measures 36 inches in height and 50 feet in length. This robust galvanized wire mesh can be used as a barrier against not only frogs but also rodents known for their ability to gnaw things.

How to Get Rid of Frogs With Citric Acid & Lime

When it comes to chemical treatment, solutions based on citric acid and hydrated lime are considered to be the most efficient. Not only are they highly toxic to frogs, but they also have the ability to prevent eggs from hatching. Meanwhile, both citric acid and lime work only upon contact and, therefore, need to be sprayed directly on the critter. Besides, you will have to make multiple applications to kill all frogs and eggs.

The problem with citric acid lies in the fact that, when mixed with water, it can be toxic to plant. To avoid the plant damage, test the solution on valuable plants in the garden before applying it to frogs. In any case, we recommend spraying the area with plain water after the treatment to reduce any risk.

Experts at Hawaii Department of Agriculture advise mixing 1.28 pounds of citric acid with a gallon of water. Make sure you have treated the area thoroughly and covered all places where frogs can be. Otherwise, you will not kill enough frogs and all your efforts will be in vain. In the daytime, focus mainly on the ground surface areas because this is where they hide. Foliage should be sprayed in the evening when frogs climb up the plants and shrubs in search of food.

Milliard Citric Acid 10 Pound - 100% Pure Food Grade Non-GMO Project Verified(10 Pound)

The Milliard Citric Acid is available in 1-pound, 2-pound, 5-pound, and 10-pound sizes. We recommend the largest 10-pound option as it is more cost-efficient, given you will have to make multiple applications. The fine grains dissolve in water easily and the quality of the product is consistent. Once a frog comes in contact with the citric acid solution, it dies within minutes. In case some powder is left after treatment, you can use it for cooking, bath bombs, and other purposes. This citric acid is pure, non-GMO, and comes in a resealable package. One of the buyers says the stuff is really potent and “fries frogs.” And yet, he warns that the solution can burn plant leaves as well.

Will lime get rid of frogs?

Hydrated lime is another efficient toxicant approved for use against frogs. While being toxic to these creatures, it is safe or has minimal effect on other animals. Most products feature 3% hydrated lime, however, for frog control, higher concentrations of up to 6% are preferable. Since hydrated lime is usually cheaper than citric acid, homeowners often prefer it. Meanwhile, there are health and environmental concerns associated with the hydrated lime, therefore, citric acid remains the most recommended chemical for frog treatment.

Bonide Chemical 978 B00BSH0U4A Number-5 Hydrated Lime for Soil-5 Pounds, Multi

The Bonide Chemical 978 B00BSH0U4A Number-5 Hydrated Lime is intended for soil treatment to raise its pH. The product comes in a 5-pound pack. Use it as a soil drench to kill frogs in the daytime. The downside to this method is that hydrated lime can leave toxic white residue on foliage, especially when applied at 3-percent concentration.

How to Get Rid of Frogs in the Pool

Frogs come to swimming pools because of water and insects that live there. This is especially true for those ponds that are illuminated at night, attracting even more pests. Some of these pests could end up on the frog menu, so no wonder,  your swimming pool is like a luxury hotel for frogs.

Perhaps you are dealing with an occasional problem, and would prefer a different approach. If you would like to save the frogs from your pool, this escape ramp will help a variety of animals easily remove themselves from your pool to a safer place.

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The worst part about frogs infesting your pool is that they lay eggs right in the water. A female frog is able to lay thousands of eggs at a time, and it isn’t a pretty sight. On top of that, you may find dead frogs in the water. This happens in pools with high edges, which don’t allow frogs to get out of the water.

Blue Wave BWC752 Bronze 8-Year 20-ft x 40-ft Rectangular In Ground Pool Winter Cover,Dark Navy Blue

Perhaps the most efficient way to prevent this from happening is by using a pool cover. If the cover is wide enough, you can tighten it so that no pest could get into the water. You may try the Blue Wave Bronze Rectangular Pool Cover with a black underside. It is available in 11 different sizes ranging from 17-by-25-foot covers for $50 to 35-by-55-foot covers for about $200. Each cover is five feet larger than the pool it is intended for. For example, for a 20-by-40-foot pool, there is a cover measuring 25 feet x 45 feet. The product features a five-foot overlap preventing ripping or stretching. Besides keeping pests away from your pool, the cover protects it from wind, snow, and can safely withstand severe winter conditions.

Rules for Getting Rid of Frogs: Science-Based Effectiveness

Since no repellents and fumigants are registered for frogs, removing these critters from your property might be a challenging task. Nevertheless, you can achieve success with an integrated approach. This includes reducing aquatic vegetation and mowing around ponds, removing egg masses, and killing adult frogs. That said, lethal control is very labor-intensive, which is why professionals rarely take this approach.

Treatment with citric acid is considered by scientists as an effective and recommended way to kill frogs. According to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, this pesticide poses a minimum risk and is not regulated by the EPA. The experts tested citric acid on coqui frog eggs and the results confirmed its efficacy. They have found out that solutions containing 16% citric acid showed a 97-percent effectiveness rate in preventing the treated eggs from hatching.

There is also research demonstrating the effectiveness of another non-toxic product — sodium bicarbonate commonly known as baking soda. In 2008, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released findings from a study suggesting that baking soda can be an effective method to control frogs. According to the paper, a single application of baking soda can kill up to 80% of frogs within a day.

50 lb Pail of USP Pure Sodium Bicarbonate Powder Organic Food Grade ORMI Listed Pure Baking Soda

However, there are two conditions for this technique to be effective. First, baking soda should be applied at a rate of 400 pounds per acre. Secondly, it should be the finest grade of powder. You may try 50 lb Pail of USP Pure Sodium Bicarbonate Powder to see whether it will work for you. Keep in mind that you will need 8 such pails to cover one acre of your property.

Expert Opinion: Dr. Johana Goyes-Vallejos, University of Kansas

Dr. Johana Goyes-Vallejos: photo

Dr. Johana Goyes-Vallejos, University of Kansas

Dr. Johana Goyes-Vallejos is a behavioral ecologist at the University of Kansas. Her areas of interest include sexual selection and mating in frogs and toads. Some of the species she has discovered are new to science. In particular, she led a team of scientists who discovered “unusual paternal devotion” in male frogs.

In this video, Dr. Goyes-Vallejos explain why frogs can be so noisy and what their calls mean.

Frogs have evolved amazing structures for sound production. They make calls to attract the female and the female is listening carefully to what they have to say. In general, male call behavior has two functions. First, they are trying to attract the females but, at the same time, they are trying to keep other competitors at bay. If the female is convinced of the attractiveness of the male based on the acoustic characteristics of its call, then she is going to approach him and meet with him. However, you may think about whether the female says something. And the answer is most of the time no. The female frogs do not have spontaneous vocal behavior, as the males do.

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