To ensure the safety of indigenous animal populations - A total of 630 bullfrogs were fatally shot.
In a move to regulate their population, animals such as bullfrogs are hunted. In 2023, 630 of these creatures were shot by the Karlsruhe Regional Council, which represents a significant drop from the previous year's count, as per the council's data. Apart from firing at them, divers also retrieved tadpoles from quarries using nets before killing them.
The immigrant species is targeted due to its potential harm to native ones. Mature bullfrogs are typically killed from boats.
Bullfrogs believed to have settled in Baden-Württemberg during the 90s
Biologists speculate that bullfrogs made their way to Baden-Württemberg in the 90s. The primary regions where these creatures can be found are quarry ponds and larger water bodies in Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen and Linkenheim-Hochstetten (Karlsruhe region). Reports of their presence have also come from the nearby municipalities of northern Karlsruhe and Dettenheim.
Illegally introduced tadpoles in a biotope pond
The regional council recently drained a biotope pond near Ötigheim (Rastatt district) to remove any tadpoles present, potentially preventing their unregulated spread into the Rhine floodplain. The spawn had been introduced illegally, as per the provided information.
Given that an adult bullfrog and its tadpoles were discovered close to each other, it's likely this was a local occurrence. However, nearby water bodies and a construction site will be checked regularly. Residents are notified via signs, the local newspaper, and flyers.
Bullfrogs preying on native species
The North American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) is classified as a predatory species that devours any creature it can grasp: frogs, fish, and even small birds. "The bullfrog is considered an alien species on the Upper Rhine and is multiplying rapidly." In their natural habitat, they are hunted by crocodiles, alligators, and snakes. "However, in this part of the Upper Rhine, there are no natural predators for the bullfrog, and it can continue to multiply unchecked."
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Source: symclub.org
