Hop to It! Take Part in Save the Frogs Day on April 29

It took me a long time to love frogs. Growing up in New Mexico, I have always been more of a reptiles fan, preferring the horned lizard to spiny frogs. It isn’t that I had anything against frogs, but I was never captivated by them like I was other wildlife.

All this changed last year when my coworker Danielle Brigida alerted me that there were green tree frogs hanging out back behind our office building in Reston, VA. Intrigued, I grabbed my other coworker, Max Greenberg, to help me investigate.

That first day, we counted 11 green tree frogs. I know this because we wrote it down – the first entry in our frog watch. For the rest of the summer, Max and I would head outside on Monday afternoons to count the frogs behind our building. While at first I enjoyed the game of it, I eventually came to really care about those frogs. Today, as Max and I start up the second year of our frog watch, I’m happy to say I’m a true frog fan.

As such, I want to help spread the word about this year’s Save the Frogs Day. Thought up by members of the scientific community, Save the Frogs Day encourages the appreciation and celebration of amphibians by people from all walks of life.

Why Save the Frogs? Because they are disappearing!

Frog populations have been declining worldwide at unprecedented rates, and nearly one-third of the world’s amphibian species are threatened with extinction. Up to 200 species have completely disappeared since 1980.

Here are ways you can help:

Educate Yourself: Find out what the 10 most threatened frogs in the United States are and read why frogs are so important to the Earth’s ecosystems and to humans.

Tell a Friend: I would have missed out on the wild and wonderful world of frogs if it was not for Danielle. If you are someone who is passionate about frogs, grab a friend and tell them (or show them!) why they should care. Check out these other tips for how to spread the word about the Save the Frogs Day.

Rally for Frogs: Events and rallies are taking place across the country tomorrow. Find one near you and speak up for frog conservation.

Build a Frog Pond: Ranger Rick has a great tutorial on this easy way to attract amphibians to your backyard. A great activity to do with your kids.

Also, be sure to check out the Save the Frogs Facebook fan page and use the hashtag #SaveTheFrogs to join the conversation on Twitter.

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Published: April 28, 2011