Base Camp Frog Blog

Encounters with wildlife are extremely exciting to me. Living halfway up a mountain in Switzerland, over the past few months I’ve spotted a stunning heron, eagles and dozens of other bird species, a fox, and even a few snakes from the backyard observation deck. This morning as I poured myself a hot cup of coffee and slipped out the back door to experience the misty cool spring morning outside, I wasn’t actually prepared for what I saw:

FROGS IN MY SWIMMING POOL. Lots of them.

Disgusted but fascinated, I made my way down the steps to investigate. And observe (I work in travel and it’s not like I have anything better to do during the Covid lockdown).

As it turned out there were quite a few of them, and each seemed to have its own agenda. Here is what I was able to ascertain about the various frogs and toads (can you tell the difference?).

THE LEISURELY MORNING SWIM 

Frogs are graceful swimmers

FROGGY STYLE 

Now I’m no amphibian expert, but I’m pretty sure these two are feeling the toad love. And if I’m not mistaken, those are eggs I see being tossed into my pool. INTO MY POOL.

GETTING MY SPA ON 

Ooooooh he’s really enjoying it, he stayed right there for over an hour. I mean wouldn’t you?

LEMME OUTTA HERE!!

This guy is the as close to cute as a frog can get…I really feel for him. He so wants out but keeps swimming into the stream of water and getting blown to frogdom come.

THREE’S A CROWD. THE SPIDER HAS TO GO. 

THE CONTORTIONIST 

There’s no denying, this guy can stretch like few others.

So that was fun…but I really do need to figure out how to keep them out of there. Ideas?