Wildlife

Wild UK Common Frog Disease

Disease threats to common frog populations including Ranavirus and chytrid fungus, and conservation responses.

Key Facts

Ranavirus causes mass mortality events in garden ponds, killing many frogs within days
Clinical signs include hemorrhagic lesions, leg weakness, and sudden death
Chytrid fungus threatens UK amphibians though garden frog populations have some resilience
Disease surveillance enables early detection and response to new pathogens
Biosecurity including not moving water or mud between ponds prevents disease spread

Welfare Considerations

Viral and fungal diseases cause acute suffering and death for large numbers of frogs, particularly in mass mortality events. Individual frogs affected by Ranavirus experience hemorrhagic disease that is both painful and rapidly fatal. Disease biosecurity is a direct welfare protection.

What You Can Do

Never move water, mud, or plants between ponds to prevent disease spread
Report mass frog mortality events to Garden Wildlife Health for disease surveillance
Do not release amphibians or pond plants obtained from aquatic centers into wild ponds