Hi jcjcjcx,
Get hold of yourself girl!!!
hahaha Just kidding! You sounded so frantic!
The same thing happens to me. The frogs just have their own agenda........and it could be all of the possibilities you suggested. I think their reproducing comes in waves, and when they're not trying to attract a mate.....they disappear for awhile.
Mine have disappeared too (except for the tree frogs), and occasionally I hear a croaking coming from the bushes, instead of the ponds. I feared mine left because of the 2 snakes I have, but then I remembered that last year, they were here when the snakes were here..........so who knows.
If that one frog was flattened, then it was run over or stepped on.
Just hang in there and be patient, and they'll show up again. For the most part, I think frogs are "traveling men"....and they come and go and come and go.
Don't worry.........you haven't seen the last of them.
:)

Thanks for trying to cheer me up. I do feel really really bad, especially knowing that there is really no place for these frogs to go. There is no creek or pond anywhere in my area as I live in a residential area with school yard, busy streets, and shopping plaza not that far. Everyone has wood fences with slight gaps so I wonder if the frogs can even hop back through them. I've searched all over the backyard, but nothing.

I'm just so perplexed as to why they suddenly disappeared now after being almost a year in my pond. If I know the reason why, then perhaps I make sure that I fix the problem so that if I do get more, or if these ones ever return, then it won't happen again. (ie. not enough food, I'm already putting in more bushes nwo).

I hope its not some kind of instinct to search for their original home (which is 150 miles away). I doubt it would be that, because they would have left and not waited a year.
By the way, I'll definetely never bring Leopard Frogs home. They all left the first week and never saw them again.

I think they can hide really well. We have utility wire fencing all around our backyard, with 2'chicken wire all around the bottom (to keep bunnies out), and they still find their way through that....so I think they can get anywhere they really want to go!
Just try to take comfort in the fact that they are doing what they are born to do. They are professionals. And just because you can't see them and enjoy them, doesn't mean they aren't continuing to do what frogs do.
But.....it may boil down to the fact that because of your location, you will never have them in great numbers staying around all the time. Sometimes when I give "advice", I forget that the person I'm talking to might have a totally different eco system than I do.
I'm trying to get more into only having what is willing to come here naturally (animal-wise). That might mean that I can't have everything I want, but that's okay. It does give me pleasure to know that I'm not trying to manipulate nature too much. Maybe you might consider that too?
I'm afraid that I'm not so good at doing that with plants though.

The first year I had my pond a pond forum buddie gave me lots of green frog tadpoles. Some had back legs. Some had four legs but still had their tails. The first year I had lots of frogs. When I cleaned the pond the following spring I discovered a lot of the frogs didn't make it. I felt terrible bringing them to my pond. The second year I didn't have any frogs. This year I have frogs again plus a toad I hear singing but have yet to see. Even though this toad sings all night it stops when I get close to it. Mother Nature has camouflaged her creatures to keep them safe. The frogs I had the first year may well be the frogs I have this year, but I just couldn't find or hear them last year. I live in the city too where there are no other ponds.

Jenny

I live in a subdivision as well and only had my pond in about 2 days when I saw my first frog. I don't know where he came from but now I have several. I would miss them if they left too.

As Catherine mentioned, they can hide VERY well. I have a BIG bullfrog I just noticed this year, and even with my small pond, some days I just can't find him ANYwhere. Then, BOOM, he's back! :)

Brenda

My two left two weeks apart.

My bull frogs are all gone but one. We had at least seven of different sizes early this spring. The only one we can find now is Waldo (go figure). Either the heron came by or they're off looking for girl friends. Or boy friends. For the smaller ones I could believe the culprit could have been one of my garters, but not Bubba and Wannabe. They're entirely too large for the garters. Although, Zith is getting pretty big herself... Meanwhile, two tree frogs have joined Waldo. I would give them names if I expected them to stay. Hmm... maybe I'll think of some fun names just in case...

Over the last few years we have noticed there is great variation in the amphibian population at the pond. But Bubba and Wannabe always show back up sooner or later. I hope your froggies show back up too!

:) Mary

Herons won't leave a trace if they get them.

Unlike raccoons who make a terrible mess of the pond.

Some frogs don't live near water year'round but only for breeding.

Bullfrogs will eat smaller frogs, even of their own species.

Its a week now, and still no site of my frogs. If mine hopped away, there really isn't any place for them to go... just small backyards, no water, just dogs, small kids, busy schoolyard, busy streets. I don't think there is anyway they could survive. (They need some water and there is nothing around - not even any pools).

I keep checking, but I think that I'll never see them again. Its such shame, because my pond has cooled down, the plants are starting to grow in, dragonflies starting to show up, even saw a few newborn goldfish fry swimming around. Looks so peaceful. I guess the grass always looks greener on the other side!

We've decided to go up to the family cottage in 2 weeks, so perhaps then I'll collect a few more. If for some reason they next group don't survive or disappear, I think I won't try putting frogs in my pond. Breaks my heart to think of what happened to them when they decided to leave. We've never had a heron so I doubt its that. I still think it must have had to do something with the heat (or time of the year, ie. breeding).

You need to put in tadpoles or eggs although fish will eat them. Most attempts at putting in adults fail as they do wander off.

Its much easier for me to find adult frogs at the cottage than to find tadpoles.
But if I do come across some, does anyone know what the difference is between Green Frog, Bullfrog and Leopard Frog tadpoles are? (These are the ones I'd most likely come across).

Articles on the internet and books explain the differences when comparing frogs, but I haven't seen anything on tadpoles.

I guess I've been lucky after reading all your post.I have about six adult's and a couple of tadpoles.I've only lost a couple to a garden snake.And have given some away.Mine have hidden in a cooler spot when the weather gets hot.
One was over in my neighbors mulch pile in shade. lol

I started with 11 frogs and got use to the sounds of them at night. Last night I heard only one, and it made me sad thinking it was by itself. Checked earlier today, and it was alone. Now I haven't seen anything else but tad poles. I just made a garden of ornamental grasses on both sides of my pond with mulch so they would have a place to go after being in the pond. I guess they went their merry ways too. I hope the tad poles are successful. There were hardly any bugs around my pond when the frogs were around.

yup - same thing happened to me - twice. last year i had one green frog which was calling all the time. i actually went into a swamp, grabbed 3 smaller ones and brought them back. they co existed all summer and then disappeared.

this year i had the local kids bring me in two reasonable sized ones - one female, the other male - they stayed 2 days and disappeared as well.

if u google, u will learn that the green frog of ontario (probably is the same species that u have) wanders all the time. they dont have enough sense to stay which is sad because there is no other pond around.

i'll probably try next year again because i enjoyed them so much

I'm having a low frog year myself. Last year at this time I counted 25 frogs! This Spring 8 over-wintered in the pond and I was up to 18 before the "Great Mother's Day Heron Attack". Since then I've been holding steady at between 4 and 8 (currently 4).

Since they came on their own, I assume they left on their own and will come back if they want to. I miss them but I'm becoming philosophical about the fickleness of frogs!

Well, its 2 months later and those frogs sadly never came back.

I thought I'd give it one more try so on July 1, I bought 8 back, 3 of these stayed. Because of the colouring and size, I can tell that these 3 frogs are the new frogs and not my original frogs from last year. Of these 3, 2 hang around during the day (I figured out their favorite hiding spots), the 3rd frog I can never find during the day, but it appears around dusk.

On July 27th, I brought home another final batch of green frogs, 11 very small ones, and this time 1 bullfrog, also very small. Only 1 green frog of this group has stayed so far. I was hoping that being smaller there would be a better chance for them to stay. Was also hoping that maybe the baby bullfrog would be more likely to stay, but it hasn't.

So, thats it. I won't bring home any more. Sadly the majority have left and mostly likely died as there are no ponds or streams anywhere in my area (not even pools).
Hopefully the few that had stayed will stick around for a while, but I now know I can't count on it.
Its so nice to see these few in and around my pond, but its not worth bringing any more knowing that they are just leaving hopping down the road to their death.

I had a roughskinned newt in a terrarium for over six years and put him in the pond the day we filled it and never saw him again. While he was native here, there is also nowhere for him to have gone....

I never released another amphibian to my ponds. All the treefrogs showed up on their own after I built ponds with no fish.

Took a photo with a flash of my beloved green frog family who have their favourite spots on brick windowsills and the tiled laundry step at night.

Haven't seen them since, worried that I have hurt them, or upset them. Maybe they have disappeared before and I am just over-reacting. I am really worried but then again, it is getting colder here in Australia, however, where I live would still be considered fairly temperate. Another thought, do they remain more hidden when there is a full moon?..............hope they come back soon and all is well!

Frogggy,
Your "greenfrogs'...are what what Americans call 'dumpys'? ...or Australian green treefrogs?" If so, they are probably staying in hiding while the weather cools. Frogs "cycle", unless totally tropical, meaning they become active during breeding season, and then when the waters subside, (I.e.:rainy season) they will go into either full blown hibernation or partial, hiding away in a treehole with damp moss to keep it humid while it sleeps, etc. During this time a frog's heartbeat can slow to as little as 4 beats per minute...meaning it does not need to come out and hunt for food. Here in our more norhtern climates, frogs (of the true frog family:rana) will actually dig a deep hole at the edge of a pond or lake, and cover itself. It knows how far to dig down into the warm, moist earth in order to escape that particular winter's freeze line...thus preserving it's life for the next spring when it will awaken and come up out of the earth, begin to sit at bank's edge, and start singing to search for a new mate.
So, don't worry. Your little froggies are most likely following their instincts and staying hidden away until a better day comes along.
I suspect that this is what also happened to the orginator of this thread. The frogs didn't "disappear"...except from their view. They just went upon their 'merry frog way", as Catherine had tried to point out. They'll most likely be back :)
Nicci

I have a small pond in my backyard, about 2 or 3 years ago a bullfrog appeared, then the next year a smaller frog appeared and lived in the pond. About 3 weeks ago I could hear the larger one from inside, he was really loud. I've heard them last year too, then 2 weeks ago I stopped hearing him, I keep looking, both are gone, one day I did not hear them, keep looking in and around the pond, gone. I don't know why after being here for a couple of years they would leave, I loved hearing them. There are no other ponds around that I know of, there are some in ground pools about 2 houses down, sure hope they did not go there. I remember the first time I saw one, he was around my pool then he ended up by the pond. So far 2 weeks, no sound or anything, I miss them.

I bet that his song was a mating call. You may see some tadpoles if he successfully attracted a mate. He may have just moved on to an area with more females. You need a Francine frog :-) I am joking of course.

Frogs don't "sing" year 'round. It is only during the breeding season.

I started with tadpoles they were around for awhile hanging around the rocks as they started maturing 4 out of 4 disappeared was wondering do small birds eat them as I m in the city also no where s for them to go

My tree frogs suddenly disappeared after having them around for years! In had to use something for string algae but according to the label it's friendly to fish, frogs...etc. Any ideas?

A lot of predators have frogs high up on their menu. Difficult to say why they disappeared but that's probably one of the causes.

Blue Heron.

When Monty Don makes a pond he adds a bucket of water from any nearby lake or water hole and presto - life! I love it.

This post is old, but it was fun reading through it again. It's funny when you like a post and realize that it's YOUR post from long ago. haha I remembered this funny thing on this forum awhile back........Someone got on and posted "I made a pond and now I have frogs coming to it. How do I get rid of them??!!" We all laughed and said something like "Buddy......you've come to the wrong place. We all love and want frogs to come to our ponds!" Seemed like a very silly thing to ask, at a pond forum.

Catherinet,I've read a lot of your post. Weren't you on the vine forum? To keep on the subject I have SO much trouble trying to get frogs to my pond. I've Almost given up. Used to have them all the time. A

Arum

Two frogs returned last summer, hope they are still here after winter.

papnnana........I think nature waxes and wanes. I know I got water snakes in my little watergarden for a number of years, then nothing for the past 4-5 years. I try not to be happy about that! I've saved a couple frogs from the jaws of the snakes......but they need to eat too. It's hard to know who to cheer for!

So.....you might be in one of those "not very many frogs around" years. Do you live in the city/suburbs/country? I live in the country and pretty close to a creek.....so I do wonder if that brings them closer. I never heard tree frogs until we had a couple little stocktank ponds......now there are a ton of them in the summer. I wonder if you have a pump in your pond? Sometimes I think they hear the water running and that attracts them. And of course, the kind of predators you have around can make a difference too. Let us know what kind of pond environment you have and maybe we can give you more suggestions.

I found about 8 dead frogs in my inground 300 gallon stocktank one spring. I was soooo sad. I think I figured out that I was keeping it too warm all winter, with a deicer that was much too large for it. So now, I keep the pump running for as long as possible, and when it starts to get frozen (the pond and the pump), I put in a very small deicer.....just to keep a small hole open in the ice. I just keep my fingers crossed that there's enough oxygen in there to keep them alive until I can get the pump going again. This weekend it's supposed to be around 1 degree at night. :(

What kind of frogs did you used to have? I have mostly tree frogs, then green, and once I had a couple bullfrogs who didn't stay around very long.............which was sorta okay with me. I love hearing their croaking......but I've heard they eat everything and everything, including small children. ;) I'm a big bird fan, so the last thing I want to see is a bullfrog eating a bird. But.......I guess that's just nature, but like I said, it's hard to know who to cheer for! Good luck with your frogs!

Catherinet,

thanks so much for answering my post. Actually I have had many frogs in the past, despite living in the suburbs, ferrel cats,etc.... I can't see a reason why I don't have them, I did before. However, a Blue Heron cleaned out my pond one year, (ate all my fish), but now I have a decoy that works well. I love all nature, and don't mind to much if animals come around, but some times we pay the price.

I have a pump and one can hear the running water. Just, (this winter) I started feeding ferrel cats, (helps keep away the rats), although I even like rats, just don't like the issues that come with the wild ones. There's always been ferrel cats in this area, so I don't see how that can be a problem, though it may be this Spring since I'm purposely drawing them. One of them is a real predator. Hey, aren't you, or were you on the VINE forum? 😁

I had a bull frog, green frogs and tree frogs. It could be the cats. There seems to be more of them, or maybe I'm just noticing them more because I feed them. 🤔

Oh,I keep my filter running 24 -7 all year long. Never a problem, with THAT. 🙄😁

Nancy, you get lots of frogs. Dena. 😁

HOPE!! 😁