PDA

View Full Version here: : Things That Go "Plaatt" In The Night


Baddad
30-01-2015, 01:57 PM
:) It started about 12 years ago, when we first moved here. Semi-rural or semi-urban?

The scene: An evening BBQ on the back deck. The serenity was interrupted by a loud and strange, "Plaatt" Not to be confused with "splat" This was a Plaatt.

My attention was on the BBQ. I spun around and was greeted with the sight of a large Green Tree Frog. Wow, he was big. It did not appear to be hurt as it made its way towards the kitchen window. It climbed uo the brick wall and progressed up the fly screen. There a couple of geckos scampered to a safe distance. Another smaller frog was already in occupation and it too made way. Size seemed to rule the roost.

Since that evening and each summer I hear that familiar, "plaatt" where the jolly green thing launches itself from the house guttering and lands three and a half meters down onto the timber decking. When rain is imminent we often hear the loud croaking emanating from inside the downpipes.

The local insectivores are often dining at the kitchen window. They, like the daytime Magpies, Kookaburras, Butcher Birds and parrots, are all safe here. Rambo, the family Border Collie, has a slight twist of the head when he stares at the local wildlife.:)

I have sometimes hand fed moths to the gentle green giant. That frog seems to be a pet here. When the house is in darkness and I arrive home I am now wary of how I grab the stairs railing. I have put my hand onto the green frog in the dark. Its soft and wet feeling is rather different of what you expect from stair rails. LOL :lol:

Cheers:)

AstralTraveller
30-01-2015, 02:13 PM
That sounds like a very nice lifestyle Marty. I see the occasional brown frog around here but I don't know if the big green ones come this far south. I've handled them too and it is a funny feeling. I suppose we've all seen them in showers and toilets too.

xelasnave
30-01-2015, 02:23 PM
I have a lot a green frogs. They jump around on my flat iron roof.
Probably my latest visitor has an interest in my frogs.

Baddad
30-01-2015, 02:23 PM
Hi David,:)
In older houses I've seen the jolly greens in toilets and showers. Its quite funny when someone is indisposed and a loud croak springs from underneath the seat.

I used to see the frogs around Townsville back in the '70s and Brisbane is as far south as I have seen them. Also I used to see hundreds of the smaller greenies after rain in North Qld. We have a few of the smaller variety here too. They seem to screech at times and are capable of very high and long leaps.

Cheers

Baddad
30-01-2015, 02:25 PM
Hi Alex,:)

I'd rather have the frogs. Although your bigger friend will dispose or consume any rodents that happen to frequent your home.

Cheers

xelasnave
30-01-2015, 09:49 PM
Yes I threw some grain under his spot to bring them in.

Baddad
31-01-2015, 09:51 AM
Hi Alex,:)

When a python is hanging around it often means that there is a food source. Usually rodents. Best to get rid of them. I can show you how, without harming wildlife. It is very easy. I used to make a living from it.

Warranties in place and I had a great many satisfied customers. It takes me 2 minutes to set it up. It takes half an hour to fully explain what is happening. That is the important part. The customer needs to fully understand so as not to reduce the effectiveness on the rodent population while maintaining a safe environment for the wildlife.

Cost is about $25. Maintenance in future $6 per year if needed.
I used to service about 15 to 20 customers per week. For 17 years. (Customers were charged $200 and it was well worth their investment as it solved the immediate problem and any in future) So you can see I do have that little bit of experience.

Cheers:)

xelasnave
31-01-2015, 09:57 AM
I have a beer bottle over a barrel with a little food and they fall in.
I can separate the hopping mice for release

pmrid
31-01-2015, 11:02 AM
Looks a lot like the one I caught in my Obs yesterday.

pmrid
31-01-2015, 11:05 AM
Hey Marty, can I take you up on that too? I'm a bit "over " the catch-and-release carpet snake routine. So a safe way to remove the food source seems like a good plan.

Peter

xelasnave
31-01-2015, 11:06 AM
My general approach is to keep ALL food in a steel cabinet, no crumbs or unwashed did, so no food.
Also minimise places they can live.
Mice don't worry me other than they attract snakes. Although they destroyed my 12 inch mirror with urine.. I was away for a couple of weeks and stuff happens.
I don't mind pythons but I have had 2 blacks and 1 brown.