Cute Coqui Frogs in Hawaii - Cute? Not!

Coqui frogs ever hear of them? Well I sure have! They are taking over the Big Island of Hawaii. They are non-native Caribbean frogs. They cause both environmental problems, problems for people, as they are not native to Hawaii. Someone brought them in! In Hawaii coqui frogs pose a great threat to native species in Hawaii . Although the call of the coqui is often beloved by SOME residents, the extremely loud noise they make in Hawaii (much louder than in native habitats because of higher concentrations of populations) has been reported to be terribly annoying. They are a lot like crickets with a microphone.. and I am not kidding. It is astounding at first but then you do get used to it or move. The mating call of the male coqui is similar to a bird-like chirp or whistle, which starts at dusk and continues through the night. Not when it rains though. Females do not vocalize.. thank goodness!

People bring in different things, animals, plants, etc. to the Hawaiian Islands... why? They shouldn't! If YOU have ever contemplated bringing anything into Hawaii that is not native to the islands PLEASE DON"T! The eco balance is being destroyed by man introducing things that don't belong there. Hawaii had an eco system that worked as most places, but unfortunately man decides to change that.

Consider the introduction of the pig on Kauai. Pigs destroy the vegetation, digging holes, taking down foliage, destroying root systems of native trees and therefore native birds and insects no longer have the vegetation they need to survive. It destroys the eco system. It is a vicious cycle that cannot be changed back.

While Coqui frogs might be cute to some, and their chirp appealing even, they are not native and thus have done a lot of damage. They don't just eat mosquitoes, they eat native insects as well. They have no known enemy.

Why are Coqui frogs such a problem in Hawaii other than the deafening chirping?

According to the Hawaii Gov site, http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/pi/pq/coqui

~ Coqui do not have natural enemies in Hawai`i to keep the population in check. The warm tropical weather likely promotes breeding all year long.

~ In some areas, populations may exceed 10,000 frogs per acre, which consume more than 50,000 insects per night. As such, coqui may endanger native Hawaiian insect populations, including plant pollinators, and compete with Hawai`i's native birds.

~ The noise levels have been measured at up to 80-90 decibels, comparable to that produced by a lawnmower.

~ Coqui infested areas have caused restless nights for residents and visitors who are unable to sleep due to the noise produced by the shrieking frogs.

What happens if someone is caught with coqui? Any person or organization who intentionally transports, harbors or imports with the intent to propagate, sell, or release the coqui is in violation of State law and may be charged with a class C felony and subject to a minimum fine of $50,000 and maximum fine of $200,000, plus 3 years in prison.

THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF!

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IT'S NOT THAT EASY BEING GREEN.. can you sing it?

Kermit is CUTE and the song is of course darling.. but an infestation of Coqui Frogs is not.

LIFT UP YOUR VOICE AND SING IT!

A word from Kermit:

Greetings, Kermit the Frog here

And today I'd like to tell you a little bit about the color green

Do you know what's green

Well I am for one thing

You see frogs are green, and I'm a frog

And that means that I'm green, you see

LYRICS:

It's not that easy being green

Having to spend each day the color of the leaves

When I think it could be nicer being red, or yellow, or gold

Or something much more colorful like that

It's not easy being green

It seems you blend in with so many other ordinary things

And people tend to pass you over

'Cause you're not standing out

Like flashy sparkles in the water

Or stars in the sky

But green's the color of spring

And green can be cool and friendly-like

And green can be big like a mountain

Or important like a river

Or tall like a tree

When green is all there is to be

It could make you wonder why

But why wonder why wonder

I am green, and it'll do fine

It's beautiful, and I think it's what I want to be

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There is a coqui in my freezer

and a lizard in my tub!

Yesterday the frog was living

and the Chameleon the color of deep rust.

Grown men go out and pursue them

the coqui night brigade is on.

Grown men pursue their manhood

with a flashlight on their head.

They all must be abolished

these frogs who croak all night.

Track them down, 'tis said

'til every last one of them is dead!

They say that where there is one

two more hide sneakily nearby.

It is like grown men have lost their senses

and have become backyard spies.

The Chameleon runs for cover

as my cat intrudes its space

A cats job is to pounce upon anything

invading this place.

None the less I rescued Mr. Chameleon

as he changed to lime green.

I told him never to come back

my tub was not his scene.

Don't take this rescue for granted

I still have freezer space

You could wind up without a tail

next to the coqui's place.

I am not a relentless hunter

like other humans I know

I draw this line between us

and ask you now to go.

My husband is outside now

I hear him in the bushes.

He still maintains its a man job

as I let him carry out his wishes.

In the morning once again

I will find berries for my smoothie

and there beside the plastic bag

another coqui in a jar, gloomy

Count your blessing Mr. Chameleon

Eat bugs and mosquitoes without delay

be glad you are not a coqui

as my husband would have to say.

by Kathy Ostman-Magnusen

copyright 2012

This is the sound of ONE single coqui frog... now times that with THOUSANDS and imagine watching TV at the same time. it it deafening. BUT you do get used to it... really!

Another side of the story.

I think it depends on how much they bother you.. They are LOUD, but yes you do get used to it.

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Turn this up as loud as it will go (not really) and you will have some idea of what it is like on the Big Island, Hawaii.. Hilo Side.

If I could share anything in regards to Hawaii it would be that if you visit, leave it better than when you came. Don't bring in any foreign items: plants, animals, etc. Pick up your trash and maybe someone pick up some that you might see on one of Hawaii's beaches. The earth belongs to all of us and yet none of us.. it is up to us to care for it.