Save the critters that fall in your pool!
If you are like me and find dead critters in your pool on a regualt basis, you may want to try out his product. (I'm not making a dime from them...honest) I thought I would share with everyone else who might have this problem like I do.
We are about conserving herps right!?!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daMjqc8OdJQ
http://froglog.us/
Dave
Save the critters that fall in your pool!
Moderator: Scott Waters
- Biker Dave
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- Joined: June 10th, 2010, 7:56 pm
- Location: Wittmann,AZ
- Mark Brown
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- Joined: June 8th, 2010, 2:15 am
- Location: Austin, TX
Re: Save the critters that fall in your pool!
That's a pretty cool idea. When my folks lived in Orlando (where every other home seemed to have an in-ground pool) they were constantly getting frogs, toads and even lizards in the pool, and usually didn't find them until it was too late. I always wondered if the little critters drowned or if the chemical soup in the water got them first.
Very few in-ground pools here in central Texas, with solid limestone just under the surface......they're almost as rare as basements (which are virtually unknown around here).
Very few in-ground pools here in central Texas, with solid limestone just under the surface......they're almost as rare as basements (which are virtually unknown around here).
- roosters977
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Re: Save the critters that fall in your pool!
Will chlorine kill amphibians even if they do make it out if they are in for a few minutes?
- Mark Brown
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- Location: Austin, TX
Re: Save the critters that fall in your pool!
I don't have any data to back up my supposition, but it's hard to imagine that chlorine wouldn't have a pretty devastating effect on amphibians, given the porosity and sensitivity of their skin. It's pretty nasty stuff for humans.
Re: Save the critters that fall in your pool!
The only reason I would have a pool in the first place is for the critters, not me. I did notice that Hyla versicolor sang and breed in a pool created by a fire hydrant the county would leave running all night for over a month one summer. I never seen any tads do well but the frogs didn't seem to mind. Not sure how much chlorine remained in the pool overall.
- Biker Dave
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- Joined: June 10th, 2010, 7:56 pm
- Location: Wittmann,AZ
Re: Save the critters that fall in your pool!
I just received my order from Frog Log.
They are relatively easy to put together and install. A couple pieces of plastic slid into corresponding slots for the ramp out, inflate the air bladder so it floats, and a rock (or sand or gravel) as a weight to keep it in place.
I got six of them to go around the perimeter of my pool.
Here are a couple pics ....
Here is a close up of a Frog Log as installed in my pool
_MG_0885 by bkrdave36, on Flickr
Here is a view of my whole pool, you should be able to find 6 Frog Logs at even intervals around the pool.
_MG_0884 by bkrdave36, on Flickr
Hopefully this will eliminate the drowned baby squirrel and baby quail problem I have.
They are relatively easy to put together and install. A couple pieces of plastic slid into corresponding slots for the ramp out, inflate the air bladder so it floats, and a rock (or sand or gravel) as a weight to keep it in place.
I got six of them to go around the perimeter of my pool.
Here are a couple pics ....
Here is a close up of a Frog Log as installed in my pool
_MG_0885 by bkrdave36, on Flickr
Here is a view of my whole pool, you should be able to find 6 Frog Logs at even intervals around the pool.
_MG_0884 by bkrdave36, on Flickr
Hopefully this will eliminate the drowned baby squirrel and baby quail problem I have.
Re: Save the critters that fall in your pool!
Good work Dave!
Now rubber ducky has a chance too!
Now rubber ducky has a chance too!
- Biker Dave
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Re: Save the critters that fall in your pool!
No pool is complete without a Rubber Ducky!
- muskiemagnet
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- Location: kaukauna, wi
Re: Save the critters that fall in your pool!
sweet invention. i will look into getting some for my parents garden pond. the anphibs get out, but it is hard for them. thanks for posting.
-ben
-ben
- Carl Brune
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Re: Save the critters that fall in your pool!
Long-time pool owner here. This contraption looks useful. It will also help out the small mamals (chipmunks, shrews, etc...) that also commonly go for a swim. Even with something like this, you should be aware that a lot of the critters will probably wind up in the skimmer basket anyway due to the way the water circulates and gets skimmed (assumming filter/circulation is on). We leave a block of wood or something floating in there so critters can haul out. Depending on where you are, always look before you grab, on two occasions I have found a copperhead in the filter basket (in NC). Regarding the chlorine, I think this is totally dependent on how much chlorine is in the pool and how long the amphibian is in it. As noted already, many amphibs can make their own way out. It seems that nearly all salamanders can climb vertical surfaces. When we moved into our house in NC, the pool had been abandoned for a few years and was full of green and bull frogs. They were able to do a cool porpoise manouver to launch themselves up onto the pool deck.
Re: Save the critters that fall in your pool!
There's also the Critter Skimmer, meant to allow small animals to escape from your pool after they've been drawn to its skimmers as Carl described.
Good thread idea, Dave!
Gerry
Good thread idea, Dave!
Gerry
- Biker Dave
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- Location: Wittmann,AZ
Re: Save the critters that fall in your pool!
My problem is with baby mammals and birds and the occasional lizard. Not exactly water based life forms ....
- Biker Dave
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- Joined: June 10th, 2010, 7:56 pm
- Location: Wittmann,AZ
Re: Save the critters that fall in your pool!
While I can not say for sure if this is true .. I do know that I will find the occasional water bug in my pool in the summer time...with weekly additions of Tri Chlor added to the water.Believe it or not, chlorine isn't super harmful to amphibians, so the extent that you can raise tadpoles in chlorinated water, whereas regular tap water will kill most fish.
Terrific Idea!
Wow! This is one of the most innovative, useful products to every be developed. Thanks for sharing.
Living in Orange County & Long Beach, CA years ago, I saw many dead animals in pools. This invention will save HUGE numbers of our wildlife from preventable destruction.
Once while living in Fountain Valley, I found a toad that was "dead" at the bottom of a pool. I used a long cleaning pole to move the body to the top of the water where I could grab it and throw it into the bushes for later clean-up. The process was rough, unfortunately.
When I went to get the body later, it was gone! The toad had revived!! He had been under water for many minutes, but somehow went into an Estivation state and survived.
1.0 Antaresia maculosa
0.1 Pantherophis guttatus (Carolina)
1.0 Elaphe schrencki
Living in Orange County & Long Beach, CA years ago, I saw many dead animals in pools. This invention will save HUGE numbers of our wildlife from preventable destruction.
Once while living in Fountain Valley, I found a toad that was "dead" at the bottom of a pool. I used a long cleaning pole to move the body to the top of the water where I could grab it and throw it into the bushes for later clean-up. The process was rough, unfortunately.
When I went to get the body later, it was gone! The toad had revived!! He had been under water for many minutes, but somehow went into an Estivation state and survived.
1.0 Antaresia maculosa
0.1 Pantherophis guttatus (Carolina)
1.0 Elaphe schrencki
Re: Save the critters that fall in your pool!
I can offer an unpaid testimonial that this device really works. We moved into a new house last year and I was finding Fowler's Toads and occasional S. Leopard Frogs (as well as small mammals like mice and shrews) in my filter baskets on a regular basis. I went online and found that exact same device and haven't had a casualty since. I bought two, one for each side of the pool.
I am working with middle school students on a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) project with a connection to the Maryland Amphibian and Reptile Atlas program and we are looking at having a challenge for students to design their own device to save critters that fall into pools. http://calvertfrogblog.weebly.com/takin ... bians.html
Tom
I am working with middle school students on a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) project with a connection to the Maryland Amphibian and Reptile Atlas program and we are looking at having a challenge for students to design their own device to save critters that fall into pools. http://calvertfrogblog.weebly.com/takin ... bians.html
Tom
- ThatFrogGuy
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Re: Save the critters that fall in your pool!
In my experience, tap water has a 100% kill rate with larval amphibians. I've had plenty of fish in tap water do fine though.John Vanek wrote:Believe it or not, chlorine isn't super harmful to amphibians, so the extent that you can raise tadpoles in chlorinated water, whereas regular tap water will kill most fish.
- chris_mcmartin
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Re: Save the critters that fall in your pool!
Tap water varies greatly by municipality regarding naturally-occurring elements as well as additives. Your mileage may vary.ThatFrogGuy wrote:In my experience, tap water has a 100% kill rate with larval amphibians. I've had plenty of fish in tap water do fine though.John Vanek wrote:Believe it or not, chlorine isn't super harmful to amphibians, so the extent that you can raise tadpoles in chlorinated water, whereas regular tap water will kill most fish.
Re: Save the critters that fall in your pool!
This is actually a rather simple and (looks like) an effective contraption.
As for the tadpoles. I've had, and raised to full morph, tadpoles on full chlorinated tap water. This was about 1 score and 7 years ago, but still it was done over and over. The long term effect of chlorinated pool water on permeable skin, I cannot say. But I can say that I have kept anurans for several months post-pool-dive with no issues.
-Jake
As for the tadpoles. I've had, and raised to full morph, tadpoles on full chlorinated tap water. This was about 1 score and 7 years ago, but still it was done over and over. The long term effect of chlorinated pool water on permeable skin, I cannot say. But I can say that I have kept anurans for several months post-pool-dive with no issues.
-Jake