In early spring along a shallow pond, the still night air is shattered with an outburst of sound that can be heard up to a quarter mile away. Countless male bullfrogs are bellowing their love song to waiting females, eager to mate and lay their eggs.
It is said that this loud bellowing is how bullfrogs got their name. Some people thought it sounded like the loud grunts of a bull. Mostly only males are so boisterous, and they do it not just to attract females, but to warn other males not to intrude into their territory.
Besides bellowing they chase or jump on intruders. If none of that works, they engage in a wrestling match. The winner sometimes holds the loser underwater for good measure, but then lets him go and chases him out of his area.
Bullfrogs like it best when the water has areas with thick plant growth where they can lay their eggs and hide from predators when they need to.
WHAT THEY EAT
Bullfrogs find a spot and wait quietly and motionless for an unsuspecting insect to fly by or land near them. Then they catch it with their long sticky tongue or pounce on it. They can leap ten times their body length, so they are able to surprise larger prey by jumping long distances.
It’s easier to tell you what they don’t eat than what they do eat. It is said that they eat anything they can fit in their mouth, but they will try anything. I read that they have eaten bats. It’s hard to imagine how anything so small can eat something so big. Even young bullfrogs have to be careful not to be an easy meal for bigger bullfrogs.
HOW THEY EAT
The teeth in the roof of their mouth can be used to grasp their prey, but they are not able to chew or bite off small pieces of food. They must swallow their meal whole. Sometimes it can seem as though they have “bitten off more than they can chew” so to speak, and it can be a big job to get it down. They use their “hands” to stuff some foods into their mouths. With larger prey they have a unique way of swallowing it. When they get it into their mouth, they press the back of their eyes down into their mouth and push the food down their throat into their stomach. Sometimes this can almost look like a painful process.
THEIR EARS
When you look at bullfrogs you would think they don’t have any ears, but they are hidden under their skin. The circles to one side of their big bulging eyes are their eardrums.
THEIR EYES
It’s hard for predators to sneak up on bullfrogs because with their huge eyes they are able to see in all directions without moving their head. Because their eyes are high on their head they can immerse themselves in water with just their eyes and nose showing.
THEIR SKIN
The bullfrog's skin is one of the most important parts of its body. They breathe and drink through their skin, so they don’t swallow. Keeping their skin moist is very important, because otherwise they don’t get enough oxygen and they will suffocate. If they get dehydrated, they sit or lie in water, taking in moisture through their skin until they are wet again.
They shed their skin frequently, twisting, bending, and stretching to loosen the old skin. Then they grab it with their mouth and pull it over their head like a sweater and eat it!
Bullfrogs can sit still for hours. A lily pad makes a great resting place, where they can stay wet. But they also like to sunbathe during a part of the day. So they jump up onto land and find a sunny spot. They can’t stay for too long because their skin will dry out They choose a shady spot or jump back into the water.
PETS
Like all amphibians, bullfrogs have special needs. They aren’t easy to take care of. And they shouldn’t be held, as oils from human skin can harm them. So keeping them as a pet really isn’t a good idea.
THEIR NATIVE HOME
The original home of these huge amphibians was in the states east of the Rocky Mountains. There they were eaten by large water snakes, alligators and snapping turtles. Some fish fed on their tadpoles. This kept nature in balance. Then they were brought to the western United States so people could eat their fat legs. It was also thought that they would help to control insects. But with their size and appetite and high rate of reproduction, they have threatened other creatures that are native to the area.
Many people don’t like bullfrogs because of this, and want to get rid of them. But when creatures are left in their natural habitat, they fill their niche in nature. All of God’s creatures have their special purpose.
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