Frogs in Pole Barn

[TNhobbyfarmer]

OK, here's one I have never heard discussed. I have a pole barn/tractor shed, dirt floor. Frogs have taken up residence inside. It appears that they have burrowed under my work bench for their nests. I have rat poison out, and that takes care of the mice. It seems that the frogs don't like rat poison, or if they do, it isn't effective on them. Anyone have any suggestions for ridding my barn of the unwanted visitors.

 

[Bird]

Are they actually frogs or are they toads? As far as I know, both toads and frogs eat insects. However, I've sprayed both Malathion Plus and Liquid Sevin on our yard this year to hopefully get rid of ants, fleas, mosquitoes, etc. and yet we have both toads and geckos that live under the breezeway deck, under the back shop steps, and under the rain gutter splash pans. Apparently, sprayed insecticides haven't bothered them, and I guess there are still enough bugs for them to eat. So I don't know how you'd get rid of yours.

 

[gbick]

Send me your frogs. They are cute, beneficial little buggers. Greg.

 

[Tig]

Frogs on this planet are a hurtin bunch. Dying off due to some infection, I think. If they are not a nuisance you may want to consider leaving them be. Take a picture for us. Even if they are toads, they don't do any harm that I know of.

 

[RoyJackson]

Yeah...leave 'em be...good and harmless little critters.

 

[Soundguy]

I agree with the others.. probably won't hurt to leave them.. however.. if you do want to drive them out without killing them, put moth balls out where you see them, and leave them a path to escape... they will vacate shortly...

Toads live in my horse barn.. i don't mind.. they eat flies. other thant he occasional 'flat' one that the horse steps on.. I don't see much problem..

soundguy

 

[jinman]

Anyone have any suggestions for ridding my barn of the unwanted visitors.

We have toads that hang out in our barn near the base of water spigot that comes up out of the ground and stays moist due to a dripping hose. I think toads are drawn to cool, moist places during the daytime and to places where bugs come out at night like outside lights. Our frogs leave the barn at night and congregate under a large floodlight where there are plenty of bugs for dinner.

So, I'd say to eliminate damp areas and turn out any nighttime lighting in the area that might draw insects. If that is not possible, you might put a light under your workbench to heat that area up and make the frogs uncomfortable. That should cause them to leave unless the light draws bugs. Then all bets are off....

 

[EddieWalker]

You need a six year old boy!!!!

Ours is fascinated with frongs and toads. He runs up to the front door when we get home at night to find them and will spend hours catching them behind our shop every night if we let him. The biggest problem we have is the ones that come in while I'm closing up the shop door. I call Peyton to come help me, and he has a blast catching them.

We've only lived here two years, but this year has produced far more then we've ever seen before.

Eddie

 

[MDSteve]

I would love to have frogs. My barn is full of spiders and crickets. I put it up in December and am hoping the frogs find it soon. I try to spend/spray as little as possible. I don't think those chemicals are good for anybody. But I do get tired of everything I pick up has a spider on it or under it.

Steve

 

[dooleysm]

When the toads get in my shop I generally find them weeks later completely dehydrated. Recently they have taken to burrowing down in my 18 month old son's sand box. The 'grow' up out of the sand when he's playing in there and it freaks him out. He won't go back in the sandbox for the rest of the evening and just keeps pointing at it and saying 'hop hop'.

 

[MossRoad]

I've got to chase a toad out from under my Power Trac each time I want to take it out of my shed. She's a big one. My 9year old caught one a couple years ago and we kept it for over a year. Fun pet and easy to take care of. Good for kids.

 

[DieselPower]

I would leave the little guy's alone. They don't hurt anything and rid your barn of bugs. Besides, their cute.

 

[Tig]

Here's a couple pics I took when I first got a digital camera.

 

[TNhobbyfarmer]

Thanks guys for all the responses. I think you have now changed my mind about getting rid of them. I'll just let them be and hope they eat lots of spiders and bugs.

 

[RoyJackson]

Thanks guys for all the responses. I think you have now changed my mind about getting rid of them. I'll just let them be and hope they eat lots of spiders and bugs.

Good decision!!!
And, when you've got some time to spare...rent and watch the movie "Frogs".

 

[wushaw]

I have frogs everywhere on my place, I don't mind them one bit they are good insect eaters. I don't like to use any insecticide due to it kills everything good or bad. I did have use it to try to reduce my chigger population since chiggers don't have a predator that I know of.

 

[Slacker]

Keep in mind...frogs=snakes.

 

[wushaw]

Keep in mind...frogs=snakes.

If that were a fact then I should have snakes everywhere. I have not seen where this to be completely true. Although frogs are a hognose #1 food, I haven't seen any hognose snakes anywhere on my property.

Mice attract more snakes than frogs.