Hop to it and keep an eye out for frogs
MOTORISTS in Caithness are being urged to keep a beady eye out so they do not add to the toll of frogs which are squashed as they cross roads in search of food.
Local Highland councillor Willie Mackay is concerned for the common short-bodied tailless frogs which come a cropper at this time of the year.
He says the creatures, which live part of their lives in water and the rest on land, come out from ditches or undergrowth to forage, usually in the dark when the evening temperature turns unusually warm, mild and humid.
Mr Mackay said: “Many of the country and rural county roads see the small frogs sitting in the warm rain soaking up the showers with their head up unaware of the pending danger of motor vehicles whose headlights fail to pick them up and squash them under their tyres.”
He said a frog’s diet mainly consists of insects, small earthworms and spiders which they swallow whole, their bulging eyes giving them all-round panoramic vision. A frog’s skin is smooth and shiny so they should be easy to spot, their long legs helping them to jump quickly.
Mr Mackay said: “If you see a small shining light in your headlights in the middle of the road, slow down if you can, and hopefully he or she will hop to safety. Frogs love hopping onto our roads in the dark but are unaware of the dangers in getting to the other side.”
