Proud Papa

  Papa Bullfrog sits there like the proud patriarch that he is.  His chest is puffed out and he gives a deep-throated croak at sparse intervals.  He is the king of his watery domain and has his masses of children to attest to that fact.  His strength and size helped him to rid the Frog Pond of all other froggies and other tadpoles.  The waters are safe for his babies so now he can sit back and gloat.  And gloat, he does.  

  I checked the Frog Pond early this morning and found that thousands of tiny tadpoles had hatched from the jelly-like eggs.  The tiny black critters had gravitated towards the edge of the pond.  There, the bright sunshine could warm them after the chilly weather we had overnight. There, they could also munch on the algae that grows in thick clumps on the sidewalls of the pond.  They seemed happy.

  I....I am not as happy as the tadpoles.  These are the bullfrogs that have eliminated most of the tree frogs and toads.  Not only did the big male bullfrog devour most that dared to enter the water, the bullfrog tadpoles will do the same to any tadpoles of smaller frogs.  I thought about moving the bullfrogs but then realized that there was no way that I could catch all of those tadpoles!  There are just too many.  

  The bog behind the shed has now become the new home for most of my sweet tree frogs.  When out wandering today, I noticed dozens of the bright green frogs hiding among the water hyacinths.  At least they are safe there!  Ok, Papa Bullfrog. You have won this battle. We shall see just how far we go with this!  Sit there and gloat all you want!  I will be watching....I will be watching.