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How to Get Rid of Frogs Without Killing Them!

If you have frogs in your backyard, garden, window well, pool, or home and want to get rid of them without using pesticides or inhumane tactics like killing them, this article is for you.

You can get rid of frogs following 4 main steps: Prepare, Catch, Release, Prevent. Prepare before safely catching the frog and releasing it within 25 m (80 ft) and under 100m (330 ft) from where it was found. Prevent their return by eliminating anything that could attract frogs to your property.

Let’s have a look at each of these steps in more detail with more specific information depending on where you found the frog on your property.

Get Rid of Frogs & Toads NO Killing or Pesticides! [Capture, Release, Prevent, Precautions]

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Find out why there are frogs on your property in this guide on our blog.

1. Prepare to Catch The Frog

Generally, before catching a frog you should wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Wet your hands and prepare a bucket with 1 cm (.5 in) of water. Ensure no children or predators including pets are in the area where the frog is located. 

Here are some steps you can carry out to prepare to catch a frog:

  1. Wash your hands
  2. Wear gloves
  3. Wet your hands
  4. Get rid of predators
  5. Keep children away

Keep in mind frogs may carry salmonella so it’s important to wash your hands before and after handling them. You could also wear a pair of clean gloves to pick up the frog. Wetting your hands will help reduce the frog’s stress since frogs breathe and drink through their skin and have to stay moist. 

How to Catch Any Frog by Hand 🐸

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Wearing gloves can help protect you and the frog from potential danger. New medical-grade, plastic or clean gardening gloves can safely be used to pick up frogs. Avoid wearing winter gloves, aluminized or powdered gloves that can irritate the frogs skin.

It is important to ensure your pets or children are not around since the frog could be poisonous, or they could get sick if they ingest the frog or any mucus from its skin. Pets and children could also distract you when you are trying to pick up the frog with your hands or a net, compromising the frog’s safety.

We have a very detailed guide on preparing to catch frogs here. Be sure to check it out for more information.

2. Safely Catch The Frog

You can catch a frog using your hands or a tight knit net. Scoop up the frog and let it sit in your hand by holding it under its arms and by the legs for large frogs like bullfrogs. Do not squish its stomach which could damage its internal organs.

You can then place the frog in a bucket with 1 inch of water in the bottom to relocate it. Do not panic if the frog pees on you since this is a natural defense mechanism and their urine cannot cause warts. Be sure to wash your hands after handling the frog.

You could also use a tight-knit net like a butterfly net to catch the frog. You can find them in Dollar Stores across North America or in low-cost item stores like Action or Aldi across Europe.

We have a very detailed guide about how to safely catch and handle frogs here. Be sure to check it out for more information.

3. Release, Relocate or Move The Frog

As a general rule, you can release a frog 100 meters or 330 feet outside of your property. Do not relocate them to another part of town, across a road, and do not kill them since this is inhumane and could be illegal.

Relocating certain types of frogs may be illegal depending on the rules, laws, and regulations in force in your jurisdiction. Some frogs are endangered, others are poisonous or invasive and depending on their status, you may not be allowed to relocate them. This is why you should talk to a qualified professional who can provide you location-specific information applicable to your jurisdiction. 

Here are phone numbers you could call to get in touch with your local animal control department for more information about what type of frog you captured, and what you can legally do with it in your location. 

NameLocationPhone
Canadian Wildlife ServiceCanada1-800-668-6767
U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceUSA1‑800‑344‑WILD
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation & AttractionsAustralia(08) 9219 9000
Department for Environment Food & Rural AffairsUK03459 33 55 77

We have a very detailed guide about how to safely relocate frogs here. Be sure to check it out for more information.

4. Prevent The Frog From Coming Back

Frogs need water to survive, so if they are on your property, in your pool, in your yard, or in your home, they are interested in water. To keep frogs off your property, get rid of any water features that attract them, frog-proof your pool, and avoid watering your lawn daily.

Here are ways you can prevent frogs from coming onto your property:

  1. Use homemade natural Frog repellents
  2. Get rid of water features that attract frogs
  3. Get rid of standing water around your property
  4. Frog-proof your swimming pool
  5. Fix any leaks around your home
  6. Only water your lawn once or twice a week
  7. Turn off your lights at night
  8. Maintain your grass and cut it to less than 3 inches
  9. Deconstruct any potential frog shelters
  10. Get rid of decomposing food
  11. Put up tight fencing to keep frogs out
  12. Consult a pest control service

Check out our very detailed guide about how to prevent frogs from coming into your yard with more information on each of these points and tips on what you can do. We also have specific guides about how to get rid of frogs that are applicable depending on where you found them on your property (CTNF).

More Ways to Get Rid of Frogs

Click on the links below for more information depending on where frogs are located on your property:

Related Questions About How to Get Rid of Frogs

How do you keep frogs away from your house? You can keep frogs away from your house by getting rid of anything that attracts them including water features, standing water, leaks, decomposing food, lights at night, tall grass, and rock structures that can act as shelters. 

How do I Get Rid of Frogs on my Porch? Frogs need water to survive so to get rid of frogs on your property start by eliminating any water features that can attract them to that location. You could also use natural methods like spreading salt, coffee grinds, baking soda or spraying vinegar or lemon juice.

What is a Natural Frog Repellent? Natural frog repellents include salt, coffee grinds, baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice. Each of these irritate frog skin so you can spray or sprinkle some of these around areas where you would like to keep them away. However, never put any of these things directly on frogs.

Daniella Master Herpetologist

Daniella is a Master Herpetologist and the founder of toadsnfrogs.com, a website dedicated to educating the general population on frogs by meeting them where they are in their online Google Search. Daniella is passionate about frogs and put her digital marketing skills and teaching experience to good use by creating these helpful resources to encourage better education, understanding, and care for frogs.