Wildlife Welfare

Wild Common Frog Welfare

Common frogs are declining in urban and rural areas due to habitat loss, disease, and garden chemical use.

Key Facts

Common frog populations have declined in many UK regions despite the species' widespread image
Red-leg disease (ranavirosis) causes mass mortality events at garden pond sites
Garden chemicals including slug pellets and some herbicides harm frogs directly
Garden ponds are now a critical breeding habitat as natural ponds have disappeared
Frogs control garden pests providing ecosystem services alongside wildlife value

Welfare Considerations

Common frog welfare is affected by a range of garden management decisions. Providing breeding ponds, reducing chemical use, and managing disease are all practical welfare interventions accessible to individual householders.

What You Can Do

Create or maintain a garden pond to support frog breeding
Avoid slug pellets and pesticides harmful to frogs in the garden
Report mass frog mortality events to the Garden Wildlife Health scheme