How to Safely Move Frogs off Your Property

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So you have some frogs in your yard or garden and you want to move them out.

If you are not sure exactly what to do, here are some ways to get frogs off your property by moving or relocating them.

You can move or relocate frogs using a net or by carefully picking them up with gloves and putting them in a safe place within 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, it could be illegal.

Here are ways to safely capture, relocate, and prevent frogs from coming back to your yard.

This article also answers some common questions related to moving or relocating frogs. Let’s dive in.

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How to Safely Capture Frogs

Here are some safe ways you can capture and move frogs out of your backyard or garden.

First of all, contact your local Wildlife Department (phone numbers below) because it may be illegal to move certain types of frogs depending on your jurisdiction.

If you are unsure what kind of frog is in your yard, check out our detailed frog identification chart.

Capture Frogs Using a Net

Using a net to capture frogs can be a good way to move frogs since this will prevent you from having to touch the frog and possibly harm it.

Be sure to use a net like the one above to avoid harming the frogs. The net should be very tight knit to avoid catching their toes or permanently breaking their limbs.

1. Make sure any predators including your pets are inside before getting started
2. Put on a pair of gloves
3. Use a tightly knit net to scoop up the frog
4. Place your hand under the net to support the frog
5. Release the frog ideally 25 meters (80 feet) but under 100m (330 feet) from where it was found
6. Chose a shaded, safe area to leave the frog, far away from predators

You can find tightly knit nets for a low cost at your local Dollar Store and use one to scoop up the frog.

You do not want your pets to be outside because they are predators to frogs and risk getting very sick if they eat them intentionally or unintentionally.

This guide on our blog contains more details information on how to safely catch and release frogs.

Be sure to check it out for more tips and precautions.

Capture Frogs By Hand

If you choose to catch frogs by hand to move them, do not forget to wear gloves or some other form of protection.

The gloves above are similar to the ones I am wearing in the video below and are great for gardening and safely catching frogs.

1. Make sure any predators including your pets are inside before getting started
2. Get a deep container or pail and put some mud or wet paper towel in the bottom
3. Put on a pair of gloves
4. Scoop up the frog and cup it without squishing it
5. Release the frog ideally 25 meters (80 feet) but under 100m (330 feet) from where it was found
6. Chose a shaded, safe area to leave the frog, far away from predators

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Do not put more than one small and large frog in a container together. Frogs are cannibals and may eat each other.

Make more than one trip if you have to.

If you use a closed container, make sure it is deep enough and has air holes (created before putting the animal in the container in order to avoid hurting it in the process).

If possible, use a deep pail or bucket with no lid to transport the frogs (like the one above).

How to Safely Relocate Frogs

This section is very important if you are considering moving frogs so please be sure to read it.

No matter how you decide to capture frogs you are responsible for their well being.

Contact Your Local Wildlife Department For Help

Contact your local Wildlife Department for more information about what type of frog you captured, and what you can legally do with it in your jurisdiction.

There are often location-specific ways of dealing frogs that you should discuss with a qualified professional.

Here are some numbers you could call depending on where you are located:

This is especially true if you would like to move frog spawn, or frog eggs.

Do not attempt to move frog eggs yourself if you are unsure if they consist in a protected species.

Contact your local Wildlife Department and they will let you know if you are allowed to and assist you on how to do so.

Do not kill frogs!

Do not use poison or some other unethical way of eradicating these wonderful creatures.

It is not necessary to kill frogs and in some places, it may be illegal, especially if the species is protected. 

Protect Yourself and The Frog

Carry the frog under the arms but do not hold it tight or around the belly. This can hurt their internal organs.

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Be very careful when handling frogs, they are fragile creatures.

Release the frog as quickly as possible and in under one hour to minimize stress, and try to move it back to the same body of water where it was born, or a similar location (CTNF).

You should wear gloves because most frogs carry bacteria like salmonella.

Be sure to wash your hands before and after touching a frog.

Also, make sure your pets are not around since they are predators to frogs.

Do not worry if it pees on you, it is afraid and that is a way for it to fend off predators. And frog pee does not give warts.

Anyway, you are wearing gloves, right? 😉

Do Not Capture Frogs Right Before Hibernation Season

Do not capture frogs to move them right before they hibernate.

This is especially the case if you live in Canada or the Northern States in the US.

When this takes place depends on the species, but avoid moviging frogs between October and May. 

Contact your local animal control department if you must move them during those months to inquire on how you can safely go about it.

They may tell you to leave the frogs be, provide strict instructions on how to remove them, or recommend you have a qualified pest control professional intervene.

Do Not Relocate Frogs to Another Area of Town

Do not move the frog to another area of town.

This is a terrible idea because the frogs will try to find their way back and will more than likely die in the process, especially if they have to cross roads.

Ideally release it 25 meters (80 feet), and less than 100m (330 feet) from where it was found.

A much more constructive way of preventing frogs from coming back is to frog-proof your yard.

So once you have moved the frog outside your property, here is what you can do to prevent it from coming back.

Prevent Frogs From Coming Back to Your Yard

If you are determined to keep frogs out of your  backyard and garden altogether, here are a few things you can do.

You can stop frogs from entering your backyard by putting up tight, smooth, solid fencing around your yard that is at least 50cm (20 inches) above ground. Get rid of anything that attracts frogs in your backyard like small bodies of water, ponds or garden fountains.

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Remove anything that retains moisture and could shelter frogs like deep planters placed on grass.

Make sure your pool is hard to access for frogs as well since it is not uncommon for them to lay their spawn in swimming pools.

Here are some more things you can do to get rid of frogs and keep them off your property depending on where you found them:

• 5 Natural Frog Repellents That Work
• Get Rid of Frogs Without Killing Them
• Prevent Frogs From Coming Into Your Yard
• How to Safely Catch And Release Frogs
• Toads in Your Window Well: Why & What to Do
• How to Safely Remove Frogs From Your Pool
• How to Find a Lost Frog in Your Home
• How to Get Rid of Cane Toads

Common Frog Relocation Questions

Here are some answers to common questions people have when they are trying to catch and relocate frogs.

Can you Relocate Frogs? You should not relocate frogs since they will try to go back to their original habitat and often die in the process. Relocating frogs may also be illegal in some places so consider contacting your local animal control department to know if you can legally do so. 

Can Frogs Find Their way Home? Frogs can find their way home if they were moved to another location. It is in their instinct to return to the pond where they were born in order to live and reproduce. Moving frogs to another area is dangerous for the frog since they may have to cross roads and will probably die.

What do You do With Frogs in the Winter? Do not move frogs in the Winter since they are hibernating. Contact your local animal control department for more information about what you can legally do with frogs in the Winter. There are often location-specific ways of dealing frogs that you should discuss with a qualified professional.

Can you Take a Frog From the Wild? Taking a frog from the wild is not recommended for a number of reasons. Removing the frog from its natural habitat can be detrimental to the frog, and it may also be illegal in your area depending on local laws and the species of frog. Contact your local animal control department for more information.

Is it Illegal to Capture Frogs? Respectfully and safely capturing frogs to observe them up close may not be illegal. But capturing frogs to move, keep or kill them may be illegal in your area depending on local laws and the species of frog. Contact your local animal control department for more information. 

How do you Move a Pet Frog? To safely move a pet frog, get a deep container and put a wet paper towel in the bottom. Put on a pair of gloves and scoop up the frog. Hold it around the arms or let it sit in your cupped hands and place it in the container. Place it back into its aquarium as soon as possible and under 1 hour.

Sources

Ontario Species at Risk Handling Manual: For Endangered Species Act, Authorization Holders