Cuban Treefrogs, they're more than just a nuisance!

Naturally Florida

Cuban treefrogs are an invasive species in Florida. In this episode, you'll learn how to identify a Cuban treefrogs and how to humanely euthanize them. By choosing to remove Cuban treefrogs from your yard or neighborhood, you're helping protect local native treefrogs, like the green treefrog and the squirrel treefrog.

Learn more:

• Dr. Steve Johnson's website about Cuban Treefrogs: https://ufwildlife.ifas.ufl.edu/cuban_treefrog_inFL.shtml
• Factsheet on Cuban treefrogs, including identification: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdf/UW/UW25900.pdf
• Learn about treefrog calls for species near you! https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/frogquiz/index.cfm?fuseaction=main.lookup

How You Can Help:

• Report Cuban treefrog sightings in FL's panhandle to Dr. Steve Johnson's lab: https://ufwildlife.ifas.ufl.edu/citizen_sci.shtml
• Remove Cuban treefrogs from your yard or neighborhood: First, properly identify and and capture the Cuban treefrog. The easiest way to humanely euthanize a Cuban treefrog is to place the bagged frog into a refrigerator for 3–4 hours then transfer it to a freezer for an additional 24 hours. Then, move the frozen, now dead treefrog, to the trashcan. (excerpt from EDIS document, below)

Sources for this Episode:

• Johnson, S. (2017). The Cuban Treefrog (Osteopilus septentrionalis) in Florida. University of of Florida IFAS Extension EDIS. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/uw259
• Kenneth G Rice, J. Hardin Waddle, Mark W Miller, Marquette E Crockett, Frank J Mazzotti, H. Franklin Percival. Recovery of Native Treefrogs After Removal of Nonindigenous Cuban Treefrogs, Osteopilus septentrionalis. Herpetologica 1 June 2011; 67 (2): 105–117. doi: https://doi.org/10.1655/HERPETOLOGICA-D-10-00020.1
• Jones, P. (2019). Expert explains key role of frogs in healthy ecosystems. University of New South Wales. Accessed via https://phys.org at https://phys.org/news/2019-03-expert-key-role-frogs-healthy.html
• Treefrog calls and sound clips were sourced from USGS's Patuxent Wildlife Research Center: https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/frogquiz/index.cfm?fuseaction=main.lookup
  

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