Acting head of Research and Monitoring at the Forestry Division, Jeanelle Brisbane, says the division remains concerned over the invasion of the Cuban tree frog in Dominica.
The frog is currently in the town of Portsmouth and the forestry division is alerting the public to be cautious about coming in contact with the frog.
“We have a crisis in Portsmouth particularly in the Picard area or the surrounding lot around the Portsmouth sea port where we have identified two invasive species. That is, animals that are not supposed to be in Dominica and pose a threat to our native or endemic wildlife.”
Brisbane stated that the frogs have established themselves in the area and are breeding. She said the forestry division is finding tadpoles, adults and juveniles of the Cuban tree frog.
“To identify the Cuban tree frog, you can do [that] just by size. It’s the largest tree frog in North America so these frogs get pretty big and they also have very large toe pads which is the round area in front of its toe.”
She mentioned precautionary measures that citizens should take when coming in contact with the frog.
“In terms of handling the frog, if you do see one, we encourage you to wash your hands after. And if you do come in contact with its mucus or what it secretes from the skin and then you rub your eyes with it, it can cause intensive burning so if you do manage to catch a frog, please ensure that you wash your hands after, for your own safety.”
She said that the frog, if not found, can cause a very big problem in the near future, and if anyone comes in contact with it, the forestry division is asking that you report because it is very important to collect all the frogs as it is able to consume any and everything that can fit into its mouth and poses a huge threat to Dominica’s wildlife and can multiply in the thousands.
“Persons from Glanvilla have also been reporting [seeing the frog] in their backyard. So, if you do see this frog in your yard, in your surrounding area, please contact forestry. You can catch the frog and hold it and we will come and get it,” Brisbane advised.
This is a communist frog.
Can the relevant authorities give the country an honest update on the exported parrots? Are they thriving? Will they be expatriated? Why keep the public in complete darkness around this issue? Only an uncaring and a irredeemably corrupt government deprive their people of public information. Bring Back The Parrots Now!
Let the Cuban experts help in the eradication of these exotic frogs.
i don,t know what you all talking about.in the virgin islands i usually put a suckes on my hand and grab this things and slam them on the ground. this things are harmless they live in water cisterns and harm no one.just kill them with a cutlas you don,t have to call forestry
Interesting: “if you do see one, we encourage you to wash your hands after.” Can we stop the damage to Dominica’s good name by making such statements please?
Can the Forestry Division say how this frog got in to the country.
It is also poisonous to other species of frogs, pets, etc
You can apprehend it, and it can also escape,so why not kill it and then get in touch with the forestry division?
yah so I going to catch a potentially dangerous specie that want to burn my eyes….waste time to catch it…plus call forestry to come for it? Noway…I will make a bookah…then call forestry….
please take note, my people.
We have the remedy for these invaders. There is a Miister who was trained in the forests of Guyana .Let him go hunt em. He has /can assembly a crew of his peers Cuban frog hunters from Picard.
If need be recommend JI, from the opposition LL, Joshua, Salisbury pal rep, etc. Let’s drop in the following real Cuban frog hunters ej Blackburn, Skerro, the Toni & Collin with the humming bird in pursuit.