unwanted frogs - how to deter

Julie495

Hi,
A freind who is really scared of frogs seems to have an abundance of them in their garden. There is no water or pond of any sorts but a shed and old compost bins at bottom of a long 50ft garden. Very few plants in the garden and just grass.
The left hand edge is all wall and they feel the frogs are tucked in there as moist and homely.
I was wondering if anyone had any advice as to how to deter them.
They have a dog and dont want to harm them but it is spoiling their enjoyment of garden as they are pretty big ones I believe.
I know we normally encourage frogs but this is a serious problem for them.
thanks for any advice

Posy

Hello, Julie. I am struggling to be sympathetic, here. Frogs are totally harmless, they have no defences against humans, or dogs and cannot hurt you in any way. They spend most of their lives hiding in shady places, avoiding us when they can and rarely come out in daylight. I feel you would be doing your friends a favour if you showed them how harmless these creatures are by gently handling one or two, encouraging your friends to look at and touch them, teaching them that we can all live together in peace. In a world filled with troubles - frogs! It's hard to believe.

Cambridgerose12

I know phobias cannot be addressed rationally but I agree with @Posy 100% here. Frogs will eat the slugs and are a vital part of the garden ecosystem. Your friends are probably getting them in their garden because there is a pond in another garden. This being so, they will have them every year, forever, as they come to seek food in their garden from next door. A garden cannot be frog-proofed, and it would be truly wrong to mount a mass extermination every year, given the pressure on wild frog populations. What would be a more sensible and far less damaging alternative (in these days when we are feeling the terrible consequences of environmental destruction we’ve wrought) would be for the friends to invest their time and energy in having the phobia treated. Always assuming there is a tactful way to suggest this to them!

debs64

Could they perhaps set up a little wildlife area to encourage the frogs to stay there? I personally adore frogs 🐸 and as others have said they are harmless. 

madpenguin

I am not sure what can be done practically to discourage the frogs but
please remember though that a phobia is not something you can just 'get over',it is by its very nature irrational so please have a little sympathy with this persons problem.
I have had a lifelong phobia of dogs and although I can now be near one I am still VERY uncomfortable around them.

debs64

I do appreciate that and I was thinking if an area could be enclosed with all the frogs would need inside they would be less likely to jump out or wander onto the patio etc. I don’t think you can get rid of frogs even if you killed them all more would come and what sort of monster would kill a 🐸 frog? 

Pete.8

I think your friend may have to make their garden less frog-friendly.
You mention a wall with moist grass beneath - perfect for frogs to hide away. Couldn't the grass be kept short which would deter the frogs?
They like to live in places where it's sheltered and ideally moist/damp.
If you can make those areas less sheltered and damp, that would also deter them.

Phobias can be overwhelming and I do feel sorry for your friend.
I also have much sympathy for the frogs too though

FlyDragon

My mum was terrified of frogs when I was a child, she later studied counselling for her work and by using some of the techniques she learned is now almost completely comfortable with them around.  She wouldn't want to touch one but apart from that she's fine. 

Phobias can be overcome with the right support, and that is always a better route than trying something that just can't reliably be avoided.  Same with spiders, dogs, wasps etc. 

steephill

As you mention that they are pretty big they might be toads rather than frogs. Not that it will make much difference to their phobia though but it might explain their presence despite the lack of ponds etc.

NorthernJoe

My gran once had that problem because next door had a pond that was very productive for them. Her solution was a spade and catapult right back to where they came. No touching and you're best part of a spade length away from it. Very effective disposal method.

Not sure whether frogs have cat like super powers and land on their feet.  So perhaps not the right method if you want to be humane about it. 

Bijdezee

Get a grass snake?