COWICHAN VALLEY NEWS LEADER & PICTORIAL (Duncan, British Columbia) 25 August 07 Cash needed to kill frogs (Mike D’Amour)
While he waits to see if the Cowichan Valley Regional District will fund his program to wipe out bullfrogs, Stan Orchard already has money coming in from the public.
Glen Harper donated $500 to help rid the Valley of the amphibious scourge.
“I want to donate the money to help that biologist get the bullfrogs,” said Duncanite Harper, referring to a News Leader Pictorial article that told the story of Victoria biologist Orchard’s need of funding to continue eradicating American bullfrogs that have invaded some Cowichan waterways, including Somenos Lake.
“I’m hoping others will make donations as well,” said Harper.
Orchard was before the CVRD Wednesday night and told the board he needs cash — $100,000 over five years — to continue his efforts to eliminate the alien frog from local waterways.
Orchard said the province is reluctant to fund the project that requires about $400 for every night his team is on ponds and other bodies of water looking for the bullfrogs.
“This is a real invasion,” he said. “This will be a long-term project that has a military mind-set to keep out- maneuvering the bullfrog.”
The problem with the invasive species — which can reach a length of nearly eight-inches — is they eat everything in sight and disrupt the natural ecology of waters they march into.
“They eat fish, ducks, cannibalize their own young and have been known to eat young alligators,” said Orchard.
At least one board member said he didn’t believe CVRD money funneled to the project would help.
“The story you tell seems hopeless,” Saltair Director Mel Dorey said, citing the scope of the problem. “I think throwing $100,000 at it is useless.”
Orchard’s field work budget ran out July 31 and there are still two months of bullfrog activity left.
Killing the frogs is the only option, he said, but noted he’s been approached with other ideas.
It seems every few weeks someone comes forward as says, “I have the solution for this.”
But it always boils down to the same two suggestions; the first is putting a bounty on the carnivorous croakers.
“The trouble with that,” said Orchard, “is people can’t discriminate between native species and bullfrogs.
“It creates an opportunity for people to catch the frogs outside the region to collect the bounty— it’s almost an incentive to create more bullfrogs.”
The second idea is to catch the frogs and sell them to restaurants.
But that too would just add to the problem and would do nothing to get rid of the frogs, said Orchard.
The CVRD board referred the matter to be studied by its staff.
People interested in learning more about Orchard’s work or want to make a donation can mail him at 69A Burnside Rd. W. Victoria, BC V9A-1B6.
Or log onto www.bullfrogcontrol.com.
Cash needed to kill frogs