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Who needs Air BnB when you can have a whole hotel oasis to yourself? Ten participants gathered at the Russell County Public Library for a fun and educational DIY Frog Hotel workshop to provide local frogs with just that! Led by Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery's Environmental Education/Outreach Specialist Makenzie Foster, this workshop was the perfect kickoff for spring!
Using simple materials like PVC pipes and elbows, flowerpots, solar stakes, and rocks, attendees crafted frog hotels designed to attract and support local wildlife. Each participant was able to choose their preferred "hotel room" arrangement with PVC pipes provided at various heights and widths including 1-inch, 1.5-inch, and 2-inch pipes to offer accommodations to frogs of all sizes. Tree frogs are the most likely candidates to settle into these cozy hideaways, including common Kentucky species such as the Cope's Gray, Eastern Gray, Bird-Voiced, Barking, and Green treefrog.
Once the hotels were assembled, participants were given tips on where to place them—near moisture-retaining areas like pools, gutter downspouts, or streams. Though easy to build, these quaint habitats provide much more than meets the eye; adding a solar stake attracts insects for the frogs to feast on, while the water-filled pot keeps moisture levels ideal for their skin, and the PVC pipes offer the perfect perching spots! Complete with snacks, skin care, and lounging amenities all in one spot; the Yelp reviews are sure to be ribbett-ing!
A special thanks to the Friends of Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery, Inc. for providing all the materials for this fun, simple way to support local biodiversity right in your own backyard. All ten participants left with their custom frog hotel and a smile, ready to be new landlords to their own army of frogs!
