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Loading...It’s Save The Frogs Day! 3 Things You Can Do To Help
They might not have the conservation charisma of the polar bear or the dolphin, but frog populations are suffering all over the world, and once again, human obsession with appearances is the main culprit.
Atrazine is one of the world’s most common pesticides: over 80 million pounds of it were used on American crops last year, and it has been in use for 50 years.
Atrazine’s harmful effects include:
- turning male frogs into females at concentrations as low as 2.5 parts per billion
- causing cancer in laboratory mammals and developmental problems in fish
- being the most commonly detected in pesticide in U.S. rainwater, groundwater and tapwater
Sign the petition to ban Atrazine in honor of Save the Frogs Day!
Frogs and humans share half their DNA, so Atrazine is likely having similar effects on humans- we just can’t see it- yet.
Although the European Union banned the harmful pesticide in 2004, the company that produces it, Syngenta (based in Switzerland!) has $11 billion in revenues, and a huge lobby to keep Atrazine on the market in the USA.
But since when are we afraid of lobbyists or giant corporations?
What is happening to frogs should raise serious alarm bells, because frogs are indicators of environmental stress. They tell us how healthy earth’s ecosystems truly are. And as long as atrazine is being sprayed on lawns and crops, and flowing freely into our rivers, streams, and oceans, Earth’s health is going to continue to decline.
Things You Can Do:
1. STOP using pesticides and herbicides on your lawn and garden.
2. Do NOT purchase wild-caught amphibians as pets.
3. Do NOT stock non-native fish in your pond or stream
Also, take part in today’s Daily Action, and join with Care2 and Save The Frogs. Sign the petition to ban Atrazine in honor of Save the Frogs Day!
Read more: amphibians, atrazine, environment & wildlife, frogs, pesticides
Image Credit: Flickr Creative Commons - noelzialee
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
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+ add your ownEveryone should have some sort of 'wild' water in their garden. I don't mean 'water features'. but real areas which would attract frogs and other amphibians. Frogs, in particular, will find water sources and in Springtime they will spawn and you will get tadpoles. Lovely!!
Atrazine affects humans too
signed noted and shared thans for post
I am blessed in having 2 small vernal ponds in my yard. It is so wonderful to watch them fill in the Autumn and ice over in the winter. Then just when Spring is officially around the corner, the Wood frogs begin to croak (actually sounding more like ducks). Then the Peepers, so tiny but soooo shrill. Next come the Yellow spotted salamanders (5-9 inches) and the Green Frogs. 15 years ago there were literally thousands of salamanders. For the last several years there may have been a hundred or so. I wouldn’t' dream of using any kind of pesticide or herbicide here or anywhere else. The grubs attract the cutest skunks and opossums. And my lawn is full of wonderful wildflowers. I hardly ever mow so the noise level is good, and I can pick a bouquet for the house maybe 6 months a year. I counted 6 Green Frogs sunning in one little spot today. Try it. It's great!
I have a little pond in my garden and I do not use any pesticides. During the rainy season, the noise is deafening! I'm surprised my neighbours have not complained yet! :()
Save not just the frogs--save our children. Atrazine affects mammals too!
But, if you don't use pesticides, how do you end malaria?
Petition signed
Informative article. Thanks for sharing.
Great article
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