There are a few reasons you may want to know what frog poop looks like. Perhaps you’ve found some poop on your porch, want to know if the frogs you have are healthy, or maybe you want to make sure it’s not the poop of a dangerous animal!
Whatever your reason, we’re here to help give you all the answers. We’ll see what frog poop looks like, how it compares to other animals, and give you some key information about frog poop. Let’s get started!
What Does Frog Poop Look Like?
Giving an accurate description of frog poop is difficult as there are so many different species out there! However, frog poop is almost always cylindrical, with tapered ends. It has a similar moisture content to that of healthy human poo.
That means that it’s not runny, nor is it dry. The color is a little darker than human excrement though, and more similar to poo from other animals. A healthy frog’s poo will be a very dark brown.
Another important characteristic of frog poop you need to know is that it comes out in one lump. This is in contrast to the likes of rat poop, which will come out in a group of droppings. A healthy frog will always have a singular poop.
There is another vital fact about frog poop, it’s big! This means that it’s easy to think it may be another animal, as you may think that a frog couldn’t possibly poop that big. In fact, it will often be a quarter of the length of their body.
For comparison, that would be the same as a 6-foot human doing a 1.5-foot (18-inch) poo! That’s because frogs eat as much as they physically can in their large stomachs. Most species will poo once every two to three days. Other frogs, the tree frog, for example, may poop only once every couple of weeks.
Key Characteristics of Frog Poop:
- Cylindrical
- Tapered ends
- Dark brown
- Similar moisture content to human poo
- Large compared to their body
Frog Poo vs. Other Animals
Are you worried about having dangerous animals around your property? If so, let’s compare frog poo against different types of animal poop.
- Toad – These two creatures are very similar, and their poop is very similar too. There’s no real way of telling their excrement apart.
- Rat – Like the frog, a rat’s droppings are usually cylindrical in shape and have tapered ends. However, their poop is usually quite small and found in groups.
- Snakes – Thankfully, snake poop doesn’t look similar to frog poop. A snake’s poo can differ in color, but it is usually both slimy and spiky. It doesn’t have the cylindrical shape of frog poop.
- Squirrel – This can look similar to frog poop but with a few key differences. Squirrel poop is usually shorter and more spherical. Added to this, it’s often a little lighter and drier.
- Racoon – Their poop can be similar in length to frog poop. However, it’s not smooth and will have blunt ends instead of being tapered.
- Porcupine – Porcupine poop is much thinner than frog poop, and it’s usually long too. It’s usually grouped together in a small pile instead of being one solid poop.
- Other Animals – The likes of bears, deer, bobcats, coyotes, and foxes all have differently shaped poop. Importantly, their poop is all too big to be confused for frog poop.
As you can see, the only animal’s poop that can be easily confused with that of a frog is a toad. As they are very similar, there is nothing to worry about.
All You Need to Know About Frog Poop
The most fascinating aspect of frog poop is just how big it is. This can make it easy to think that it’s the poop from a much bigger animal, but there is nothing to worry about. There’s no way you should confuse frog poop with that of a dangerous animal.
But why do they poop so much? Like many animals, frogs have a strong survival instinct. If they see any food, then they’ll eat it as they can never be sure where their next meal is coming from. So they’ll cram food into their large stomachs until they can’t eat anymore.
Compared to their body size, they can eat much more than other animals, so it’s only right that they poop more too. Any frog owners will already be fully aware of just how much poop these little creatures can excrete!
With so many different types of frogs, there are some differences between species in terms of how much they poop and how often. Larger and older frogs tend to poop less frequently than younger and smaller frogs.
1. Where Do Frogs Poop?
Frog poop can be found anywhere, but there will be spots that are more likely than others. These are generally areas where frogs want to spend most of their time. Frogs love damp and moist environments, such as a pond.
If you have a pond in your backyard, then you can expect to find it there. If you don’t have a pond, then you may wonder where your frogs are coming from. Well, these little creatures will be happy in any moist environment, such as overgrown grass and wildflower areas.
If they are pooping right next to your property, then examine the area. Is there any standing water close by? Or perhaps there is a night light which is giving them a plentiful source of food due to it attracting insects? You can then take steps to not make the area so frog-friendly.
2. Is Frog Poop Dangerous?
With frog poop, you only need to take the standard level of precautions when cleaning it up. It’s not dangerous to handle, but you’ll still want to avoid any skin contact in case the frog is carrying any germs or parasites.
For example, frog poop can contain salmonella, which is dangerous to humans. Due to this, you’ll want to wear gloves and a mask when picking it up. A mask isn’t absolutely required, but it’s a good precaution to take.
Frogs can also have parasites such as pinworms, but this isn’t something you should worry about. While humans can have pinworms, they are a different type and can only be transmitted to you by other primates, not frogs.
As a general rule, there is very little danger to humans from frog poop. However, you’ll still want to be careful when cleaning it up.
How to Deter Frogs from Your Home
So, you’ve read all of the articles so far and have come to the conclusion that you have a lot of frog poop around your home. If so, you may be wondering how to stop it from happening. Let’s check out how you can deter frogs.
- Cut Off Their Food Source – Do you have lights always on in your backward? Lights attract insects, and frogs are attracted to insects. Therefore, putting on your lights all the time makes your home very inviting for frogs. Keep your lights off as much as you can.
- Remove Their Shelter – Do you have loads of nooks and crannies in your backyard? If so, frogs love moist areas that have shade and shelter. Make sure to clear up your yard and remove any piles of natural debris and long grass.
- Remove Water Sources – As amphibians, frogs are most comfortable when they are near water. If you have any areas of still-standing water, then you’ll need to drain it away. Improving the drainage at your property will reduce the likelihood of frogs invading.
- Salt, Coffee, or Vinegar – Frogs avoid all these three substances for various reasons. Salt draws moisture from their skin, they hate the feel of coffee grounds, and vinegar will sting their feet. Applying these in a perimeter around your home will make frogs think twice about pooping near your property!
- Physical Barrier – You can also add a fence where you think the frogs will be coming from. The gaps in the fence would need to be minimal as otherwise, they may sneak through. It can be difficult to put a fence all around your property, so you can start near the area where you found the poop.
- Make a Frog Home – Do you have a long yard? If so, you can create a perfect frog paradise around the bottom end. This will help to keep frogs away from your home while not destroying their habitat. This will be the most peaceful way to deal with the issue.
Conclusion
Frog poop is distinctive from the poop of most other animals. It has a cylindrical shape, that is gently tapered at both ends. It comes out in one solid lump and is usually very dark in color. It is also quite large in comparison to the frog’s body, often a quarter of its length.
Hopefully, you are now reassured that the poop you’ve found isn’t from a dangerous animal. If frog poop is a problem for you, then you can take the steps above to deter frogs from your property.