WQAD (Moline, Illinois) 27 June 08 Frogs invade Colona (Kia Carter)
Colona, Illinois: Now after the invasion of flood waters comes an invasion of a very different kind. Colona, Illinois has a population 5,200...that was until a new four-legged population moved in with the flood waters.
"Never, never in 45 years," says Linda Hannabarger, Colona resident.
Linda loves frogs, even decorates her car with one. But she never expected frogs would be drawn to her town.
"I don't know if this is a once a 50 year thing, but it's never happened before," says Hannabarger.
They aren't the frogs of fairy tales. Kissing one won't reveal a prince. They're leopard frogs and the cute creatures are only an inch long. The small frogs aren't harmful, but they're creating one big mess. They're hard to see...so hard to miss. Things that look like spots on local roads are actually what is left of frogs that met their maker, after a run in with some rubber.
The jumpers have created a paradise for teens and dogs alike who now spend their time trying to catch the little critters.
"You gotta sneak up on it. That's all you gotta do. Sneak up on the back of it and hope you catch it," says Skye Smith, 18.
The frogs surfaced after outlying areas were flooded by several rivers. People think the boom is because flood water has idled for so long, that the frogs have been busy breeding in the marshlands. Some say it feels like one of the plagues has come to fruition in Colona.
"It's a lot of frogs, when you're walking and their jumping away from you its weird," says Brea McConnell, Colona teenager.
"A ka-trillion, I don't know a lot. A ka-billion? That's a good number," says Smith.
Many residents are trying to look on the upside of this frog invasion. They're hoping the new influx of frogs may help out with the new influx of gnats and mosquitoes. Colona's public works director says he's checking with the department of natural resources to see if biologists have any suggestions.
Frogs invade Colona