TV3 AUCKLAND (New Zealand) 24 September 08 Noisy frogs driving Dunedin residents crazy
Dunedin noise control officers are dealing with an unusual complaint of rowdy frogs.
The tiny Australian brown tree frog is back in town, their nightly mating croaks ringing out across the city.
The frogs are so croaky, a whole population had to be removed from a suburban pond because the neighbour could not stand it any longer.
"They make a very high pitched piercing, screeching sound, and it pulsates all night long," says Ewen Cadzow.
The male frogs start up around 9pm and can go all night. Even the biggest frog fans have to admit they are loud.
"They call at a rate of 91 decibels a metre," says zoologist Dr Phil Bishop, "equivalent to being 10m away from a diesel truck, or about five meters from a jack hammer."
Sick of the nightly disturbance, Mr Cadzow called in the big guns.
"I got really brassed off and called noise control at the council. The first person thought it was a bit of a joke," he says.
Pond owner Ruth MacKenzie-White admits her froggy friends are noisy, but did not fancy a final solution.
"Apparently a bottle of Roundup in the pond will melt them, but I wasn't particularly fond of that," she says. "It's very hard to know what to do."
To keep on side with the neighbours, Ms MacKenzie-White rounded them up and gave them to the university, but the experts say they will soon be replaced.
"There's no quick solution," says Dr Bishop. "If you don't want frogs in your garden you need to live in a concrete jungle with no plants. Then you'll be happy."
Mr Cadzow is enjoying his silent nights for now. He just wishes the amorous amphibians would croak somewhere else.
Noisy frogs driving Dunedin residents crazy