Project Polliwog consists of hoppin frog lovers who, just like you, are terrified and outraged by the fact that some frogs are slowly going extinct. We all want to help our bouncy ecosystem stabilizing friends stay alive and the current statistics are not looking great.
We are here to be the change! Our main mission is to protect the frog population, spread awareness of the species, and support natural environmental frog sanctuaries & Research teams.
Our Official Partnerships
We are so happy to officially partner with Tays Exotic Critters. Tay's Exotic Critters Rescue has been taking in neglected and special-needs frogs since 2018. Located in Austin, Texas they have taken in and rehabilitated almost 20 different species. They pride themselves on offering a safe place for amphibians to feel better and find their forever homes. They work with Westgate Pet & Bird to ensure the best veterinary care possible. On top of that, Tay, their owner, has five years of experience working with frogs. From administering medication to giving CPR, Tay can do it all! By ordering from Project Polliwog you help support this wonderful Frog Rescue Sanctuary!
Endangered Frogs We Want To Help
The 2 species we are currently working to save & support are the Georgia Gopher Frogs and the California Foothill Yellow-legged Frogs.
Georgia Gopher Frog
This frog is one of the rarest frogs in all of Georgia. It is currently listed as #3 most endangered amphibians on the Georgia Endangered Species List. The Amphibian Foundation is one of the best Conservation and Research foundations we have seen in Georgia. We are big fans of the amazing work they are doing. They have been working on the conservation of the wetlands that the Georgia Gopher Frogs reside in for over 10 years. Unfortunately, while they may be saving frogs in the areas that their program reaches, other populations in other locations are still on the decline. They now run a captive propagation program that will ultimately lead to releasable Gopher frogs that will help save their species! If you would like to donate directly to them you can go to their website located in the "resource" section at the end of this paragraph. We make monthly donations to the Amphibian Foundation in an effort to support their amazing work. We are in no way affiliated with them, we just love to support them!
Gopher Frog Endangerment Resources:
Georgia States Official List of Endangered Species
Project Polliwog donates proceeds of every purchase towards helping foundations like The Amphibian Foundation. We offer a number of different thoughtfully designed and adored Frog items to help raise awareness for the worthy cause of Saving The Frogs.
California Foothill Yellow-legged Frogs
The California Foothill Yellow-legged frogs were put onto the California & Federal Endangered Species list in 2020. Their current threats include Invasive Species, Habitat Loss, and Overexploitation. We decided to make it our goal to help this frog because we are based in California and this is a fairly recent endangered species. We are choosing to support the One Tam Orginization. According to them, "One Tam combines the skills and resources of its five partners to support work that is vital to the health of the mountain, enriches the experience of its visitors, and inspires and educates a new generation of stewards. Our combined efforts include ecological restoration, trail improvements, wayfinding signage, wildlife monitoring, volunteer and youth programs, and more." They provide amazing updates on how the species's in their area are doing. They protect various state parks in California, one of those being Mount Tamalpais, which is a natural habitation for our Yellow-Legged friends. If you would like to donate directly to them you can go to their website located in the "resource" section at the end of this paragraph. We make monthly donations to the One Tam Organization in an effort to support their amazing work. We are in no way affiliated with them, we just love to support them!
Project Polliwog donates proceeds of every purchase towards helping foundations like One Tam. We offer a number of different thoughtfully designed and adored Frog items to help raise awareness for the worthy cause of Saving The Frogs.
Resources:
California Recovery Plan for California Foothill Yellow-Legged Frogs
One Tam Amphibian Health Indicator
One Tam Organization Main Website
Facts About Frogs You May Not Know...
- They keep insect populations at bay.
Did you know frogs eat insects? These include pesky bugs most people don't want to deal with, as well as adult mosquitoes and their larvae that can transmit diseases including Dengue fever, Malaria, West Nile fever, and Zika. Frogs play a huge role in regulating and keeping these diseases away! Without frogs, we would have a huge problem with insects & diseases.
- Frogs are important in Medical research.
Did you know that Frogs have extremely similar digestive systems as humans? Frogs have served as helpful animals throughout the history of science. They are used to understand biological phenomena in a variety of other animals, including how birds, mammals and reptiles reproduce, grow and develop.
In the 1920s, the African clawed frog was used to determine if a woman is pregnant. After being injected with urine, if the frog produced eggs within 24 hours, the woman was pregnant. Frogs have afforded a lifetime of discovery and opportunities to learn.
- They play an important role in the food chain.
Throughout their lifecycles, frogs have an important place in the food chain as both predators and prey. As tadpoles, they eat algae, helping regulate blooms and reducing the chances of algal contamination. Frogs are an important source of food for a variety of animals, including birds, fish, monkeys, and snakes.
The disappearance of frogs can disturb an intricate food web with cascading effects felt throughout an entire ecosystem.
- Frogs are nature's pharmacy.
Epibatidine, a painkiller 200 times more potent than morphine, is made by some poison dart frogs. Unfortunately, people can't safely ingest it because it's so toxic. But because frog toxins are so diverse, they are being researched for their potential as therapeutic drugs.
Frogs have existed for centuries, but now they are threatened by disease, pollution, habitat loss, invasive species, and climate change. Their populations have declined dramatically since the 1950s, and it is believed more than 200 species have already become extinct since 1980s.
To us, a world without frogs—and its cascading effects on people, animals and the environment—is one we do not want to know.
"Conservation must be a global team effort. We are the stewards of the planet and are responsible for all living creatures. We should never have to justify why biodiversity matters." - Maureen Donnelly - Amphibian Conservation Biologist
Facts provided by the Florida International University