Home >> Science & Nature >> Animals & Science

How to Release a Bullfrog Back to the Wild

Whether you tended to an injured bullfrog or raised tadpoles into adult frogs, releasing a bullfrog back into the wild permits the animal to have a larger environment to explore and removes the stresses of raising a wild animal. These water-dwelling amphibians eat almost any small animals in their vicinity, including snakes, worms, mice, baby birds, turtles and other frogs. Bullfrogs naturally live east of the Rocky Mountains, but people have introduced them to the wilds of the western United States, British Columbia and Mexico.

Things You'll Need

Container
Rubber gloves

Instructions

- 1
  Research your state and local laws. Some state laws forbid releasing bullfrogs into the wild; other states forbid keeping bullfrogs in captivity after they have metamorphosed.
- 2
  Put the bullfrog in a large container with air holes.
- 3
  Locate a permanent body of water in a wooded area, such as a pond, lake or stream. Bullfrogs can live in large puddles and other semipermanent waters, but they will be more vulnerable to predators.
- 4
  Browse the area for other bullfrogs and predators, including wading birds and small mammals.
- 5
  Open the container and allow the bullfrog to hop out on its own, if possible. If it cannot climb out, wear rubber gloves, grasp the frog around its hips and pull it out of the container.

Animals & Science