Wildlife Welfare

Wild Common Frog Garden Welfare

Common frogs are a garden staple but face welfare threats from disease, chemical exposure, and habitat loss in both gardens and countryside.

Key Facts

Common frog populations are declining in some regions due to multiple pressures
Ranavirus causes haemorrhagic disease and mass mortality events in frog populations
Chemical herbicides and pesticides reduce invertebrate prey and cause direct toxicity
Garden ponds are a critical refuge for urban frog populations
Frogs overwinter in mud at the bottom of ponds and in log piles and compost heaps

Welfare Considerations

Ranavirus causes acute haemorrhagic disease and death in affected frogs, with mass mortality events representing significant welfare impacts on local populations. Chemical exposure in gardens reduces food availability and may cause direct toxicity. Maintaining garden ponds and reducing pesticide use are the most impactful welfare interventions available to garden owners for amphibians.

What You Can Do

Create or maintain a garden pond for frog breeding
Reduce or eliminate pesticide use in gardens
Report mass frog deaths to Garden Wildlife Health for disease monitoring