Cuban tree frogs can hide in your toilet, in your gutters, in crevasses around your yard. On warm nights, they hang on walls and windows near lighted areas and wait for insects to eat. They’ve adapted to living among humans — and have been known to jump on people as they enter and exit their homes at night.
The non-native frogs can lay up to 1,000 eggs during the spring and summer months, especially after heavy rains. They remain tadpoles for only a few weeks before they morph into frogs, preying on native wildlife. During drier months, they’re less active.
A Florida statute prohibits releasing invasive species into the wild, even if one finds its way into your home. It’s not only illegal, it’s irresponsible to let the frogs go because of their impact on native wildlife, said Steve Johnson, a wildlife ecology and conservation professor at the University of Florida. One solution: euthanasia.
Yes, you can hit a Cuban tree frog in the head with a hammer. Any accurate and quick blunt force that results in instant death is considered humane. Johnson, however, doesn’t promote this method to mitigate the population.
Florida: Censoring ‘climate change.’ Tax breaks for tourists. | Commentary The most approachable way to kill these amphibians is to capture one in a plastic bag, tie the bag tight and place it in the refrigerator for a few hours, then in the freezer overnight.
The cool air acts as a natural anesthetic, and the frog will die a painless death, according to .
