A baby frog spotted by an Everything Dinosaur team member close to the company’s office pond. This is the first frog observed from this year’s breeding season. The tiny frog (Rana temporaria) was observed in a small patch of gravel. This area has been left and weeds allowed to grow, thus providing shelter and habitat for animal’s leaving the pond.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Baby Frog Spotted (Rana temporaria)

The frog is a Common Frog (Rana temporaria). In common with all British amphibians this frog is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. Garden ponds are an increasingly important habitat for them. In return, they help keep slug and snail numbers down. In short, amphibians like the Common Frog are the gardener’s friend.

The first batch of frogspawn was laid in the office pond on February 28th. This is the earliest recorded date for frogs spawning in our pond. We suspect that the spotting of a baby frog on the evening of 24th June is the earliest recorded date for observing a frog from that year’s breeding season.

To view the Everything Dinosaur article about the early frogspawn: Frogspawn in the Office Pond (February 28th, 2023).

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Doing Our Bit for Conservation

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented that team members had been busy looking after the office pond and removing excessive algae on a regular basis. The water level is quite low, but the pond is being carefully monitored to ensure it remains an attractive habitat for fauna and flora.

Recently, some oxygenating hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum) was introduced to the pond. This plant will grow rapidly and help to combat the excessive growth of any algae. It is hardy, tough and fast growing. Hopefully, the introduction of this oxygenator will help to keep the pond in good condition and encourage lots of wildlife.

The spokesperson added:

“We like doing our bit for conservation. Many ponds around us have been filled in and we are pleased that our little pond is helping to maintain the local frog population. We shall keep observing the pond area, we might spot more baby frogs.”

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