Frog Source

My son is in the 10th grade this year, and since we homeschool I bookmarked a free website where we could perform frog dissections online, without an actual frog, many years ago. I knew it was an important part of the curriculum, but I also love frogs, so it seemed like the best solution. Unfortunately it has been so long that the program I bookmarked no longer exists!

Now I'm on a quest to find another virutal program to use with my son. The University of Washington has this promising-looking program linked, and PBS has a great set of videos to go along with it. The one I had bookmarked seemed much more comprehensive but I could be wrong. I'd love to know of any other great online dissection alternatives--not just for frogs, but for other species--especially if they're completely digital.

What alternatives to dissection have you seen or used? Share them in the chat.

It makes sense that scientists would want to study frogs to find out how to better serve humans. Between the animals already serving as a barometer of how messed up an area might be to the various incredible functions of a frog's body, they are really amazing creatures. But when it comes to secretions they make during the mating process, it really doesn't sound like a great conversation topic, let alone something we'd want to utilize for human health.

But that's exactly what scientists are considering. Also known as "frog foam," this secretion is great at protecting frog eggs. It's also highly durable, which led researchers to wonder if it could be utilized to deliver medication to humans slowly over time rather than all at once, which can help the body absorb many medications better.

What do you think of this idea? Share your thoughts on "frog foam" and other uses of animal secretions in the chat.

Last week we read some heartening news about Northern Leopard Frogs being released to help build their species population, but this week we've had some sad news: 26 frog species are at risk of going extinct within the next two decades. The study shows that these species will actually be gone by 2040 without any intervention.

These frogs are out of the 240 species of frogs in Australia, and the biggest threat against them is the deadly chytridiomycosis fungus that's been wiping out frog populations. It's been discovered that the fungus unfortunately thrives in humid and cold areas, which both put frogs at risk. Scientists stress that climate change is also attacking the species. Scientists think that creating refuges where fungi can be controlled and monitored may help.

Have you read any other frog news this week? Share it in the chat.

As a frog lover, I can't get enough frogs (or toads, or skinks...) in my yard. I love these little visitors and only want to keep them safe from my dogs! That's why I provide shelter for them away from my dogs in parts of my yard they don't play in. That said, it's very understandable that people would want frogs gone if they are making enough noise to keep them up at night, or if they populate pools with their spawn.

Spraying with citric acid and vinegar will deter frogs from setting up shop in your pool. Concentrated coffee also works. You can also put rubber snakes out to scare them away, work on relocating frogs manually or call a pest control service to handle the frogs. The best way to keep frogs out of a pool is to invest in a good pool cover to prevent them from getting inside.

Do you have a safe, humane way of shooing frogs away from a yard? Share it in the chat!