It is difficult to imagine that frogs can be considered a pest, but these important amphibians can become just that if they overrun your yard. Frogs can become pests in the following ways:
- Incessant croaking and noises that can disturb sleep
- Potentially toxic to pets
- The release of toxins to humans from can toads and Cuban tree frogs
Choosing a good frog repellent is one of the best ways to keep frogs away from your yard. Additionally, draining water sources, keeping grass and weeds mowed and trimmed, and removing pet food are great ways to ensure frogs stay out of your yard.
There are a multitude of natural remedies you can use to repel these amphibians, in addition to preventive measures that will have frogs seeking another area to inhabit. Read on to discover some of the best frog repellents available and to find out how to prevent frogs from overcrowding your yard.
What Are Some Problems That Come with Frogs?
It is usually rare that frogs can become problems, in fact, native frogs to a particular region actually play vital roles within that region's ecosystem. According to research conducted at Florida International University, frogs eat pesky bugs most people don't want to deal with, as well as adult mosquitoes and their larvae that can transmit diseases including Dengue fever, Malaria, West Nile fever, and Zika.
Additionally, frogs play a vital role within ecosystems as the amphibians are a vital food source for many larger animals. Many frog and toad species are also protected by federal legislation, which is something to keep in mind when trying to figure out how to get rid of frogs.
With that said, frogs and toads can actually be dangerous depending on the variety in question, in addition to a nuisance in yards. Two common types of frog and toad are the cane toad and the Cuban tree frog, which are toxic to humans and pets.
Cane toads and Cuban tree frogs are potentially dangerous types of frogs that can cause a severe allergic reaction and temporary blindness in humans if the toxins released make contact with the skin and eyes. These two species can have also killed domestic animals such as dogs and cats based on the toxins entering the bloodstreams of pets.
Croaking is also a nuisance to homeowners, particularly after a thunderstorm, and frogs and toads can also attract snakes and other predators to your yard. If frogs or toads have become a pest, knowing what to use to get rid of frogs must also come with knowledge of what attracts the amphibians to your yard in the first place.
What Attracts Frogs?
There are a few different things that attract frogs to a yard, but there is no set standard by which frogs and toads live by like other pests. Frogs and toads freely roam around, however, water sources are always going to be the number one attractant for these amphibians.
If you live near a lake, river, or any body of water, you can expect frog and toad activity to be near these water sources. Additionally, frogs and toads love swimming pools and fountains and frogs will travel to any collected water source after it rains.
Insect activity is also a prominent reason that frogs will congregate in your yard. If you have a porch light on at night, insects flock to light sources, which will naturally bring frogs and toads near the sources as they hunt their food source.
If both water and insects (food) are constantly in supply in your yard, frogs will hide under debris piles and under porches, decks, and behind any structures when they aren't searching for food. If you do not regularly treat your pool with chemicals, frogs will even lay their eggs within these structures.
Frogs and toads are not always picky eaters, therefore, never leave pet food outside for long periods and always seal trash cans.
What Is a Good Frog Repellent?
When deciding how to get rid of frogs and how to get rid of toads, pest control measures are not as cut and dry as with typical pests. The first instinct is to go for a spray formulation and there are very few sprays on the market made specifically for frogs.
Getting rid of frogs does not always mean killing them, in fact, there are too many risks involved if you are deciding to kill frogs since many species are protected. However, there are some potent repellents that you can use when deciding how to get rid of frogs.
Iguana Rid spray (see on DoMyOwn.com) is a traditional spray that uses all-natural ingredients that are highly effective to get rid of frogs and keep the area around your home frog and toad free. This spray is easy to use and even has a residual effect that keeps the ingredients attached to structures for long periods of time.
The main ingredient in Iguana-Rid that targets frogs and toads is citric acid, which is highly repellent to amphibians. Citric acid burns the skin of frogs and can even kill frogs if high does of the concentrate come into contact with the skin of the animals.
Since snakes can also become present in your yard if the frog population is high, a good snake repellent is also advisable to have on hand. Iguana Rid also acts as a snake repellent, which can eliminate problematic frog populations as well as snakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Keeps Frog Populations Away from Your House and Porch?
These animals have no desire to enter your home, but that doesn't mean they won't get near your home if insects or water supplies are near your house. To keep them away and to keep them from coming back around, simply apply any formulation that contains citric acid as a spray around your home.
Iguana Rid does the job for you with its concentration of ingredients that are repellent to frogs. Be sure to spray around the underside of your porch and near any water sources, such as fountains.
If you are also wondering how to get rid of frogs in garden structures, Iguana-Rid is also safe for most plants and generally non-toxic to fish or other types of pets.
Do Mothballs Repel Frogs?
Mothballs can be highly toxic to the surrounding environment, in addition to being potentially dangerous to humans and pets if the balls are left exposed to the open air. While mothballs do help to keep frog and toad populations far away from your yard or in the immediate area surrounding your house, usage of mothballs is not recommended if pets or small children will be playing in these areas.
In Summary
Frog and toad problems can be addressed by repellents that combine natural ingredients known to irritate these amphibians, with a particular emphasis on the usage of citric acid. These animals can become irritating problems for a wide variety of reasons, but it is best practice to not kill the animals since different localities may have different rules and regulations regarding the killing of frog and toad species.
If none of the above measures provide frog elimination, contact a pest control professional today.