Year of the Frog

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, a worldwide coalition of experts has designated 2008 as the Year of the Frog. It's Leap Year, of course. Their web site tells me that efforts for this celebration arose out of the recorded decline of 1/3 of the 6,200 known species of amphibians worldwide. This conservation education effort is intended to raise awareness about the declines in Frog and Toad populations as well as to raise funds to help species in trouble. (Be sure to check out the video on this site.)

1/3 of 6,200 means approximately 2,046 species of frogs are on decline on our watch, folks. Can you even imagine that such things are ongoing in the world around us? What are we thinking? The little kid in me says: "Do something!"

So why are Frogs in trouble? Richard, the environmental scientist, tells me that Frogs are very sensitive little critters. In many ways, they serve as indicators of the health of our environment. Their thin skin absorbs what's in the water. If the water is polluted, you get the picture.

Last fall, a couple that we know in Kirksville talked about how they used to hear Frogs in their neighborhood. They no longer do. The land is drained, urban lawns have replaced natural habitats, and a lot of people (liking lawns) use chemicals to take care of weeds and green things up. I guess we are taking care of Frogs too.

OK. You just saw a picture of our lagoon. I am assuming you know the purposes of such things. I shall talk in quieter tones here for the more delicate tastes of Readers. Waste water from laundry and dishes, water from those wonderful showers and brushing our teeth, simple but important matters of flushing toilets, all those things go through our home's plumbing system to pipes which head directly to the lagoon. The waste is broken down by natural processes of this beautiful little ecosystem which looks like a little pond surrounded by a fringe of cattails and willow. Bacteria, microbes, small plants and animals, duckweed, algae, cattails, break it down.

Since we live in the country and we have a lagoon, we are very aware of where our waste water goes. We are also very aware of the organisms that might be affected by it. Early on, Melanie brought to our attention that everything that goes down the drain affects the Frogs and other living beings.

What we put in the water is a direct "gift" to Frogs and other critters. Most people just don't think about such things. We didn't used to think about it. But then we started thinking about it, and we began to care. I say without hesitation that we care about Frogs and all living things. Plus, we care about our own health. In that spirit, we have long since switched to less toxic cleaning and personal care products (such as Ecover, Life Tree, Seventh Generation). We do not use synthetic pharmaceuticals. OK, maybe it costs a little more, but it is worth it. When we hear those frogs singing, it surely means we must be meeting our goal.

People usually don't go around showing pictures of their lagoons. They show pictures of things they are quite proud of: their kids, pets, home, vacation. Maybe we should be proud of such essential processes. Next time we meet, I would like to see a picture of your lagoon and I would like to hear the Frogs singing around it at this time of the year.

2008 is the Year of the Frog. How are you celebrating? Every year should be the year of the Frog. Just ask Kermit the Frog or any of those Frogs singing at the top of their lungs in this glorious early spring.