Before Kaua‘i wastes more money to kill coqui frogs, it would be wise to consider new information about the coqui from the Big Island experience. Tourism is up and real estate values are up, regardless of coquis. Many people who
Before Kaua‘i wastes more money to kill coqui frogs, it would be wise to consider new information about the coqui from the Big Island experience.
Tourism is up and real estate values are up, regardless of coquis. Many people who live with coquis have reported fewer mosquitoes and insect pests in the garden. Coquis eat ants (including fire ants), termites, roaches, fleas, fruit flies, snails and slugs and other garden pests, reducing the need for pesticides. And more people are coming to accept and appreciate the coqui’s nocturnal chirping. Once you get used to it, the sound is very soothing. There is a good reason why recordings of coquis are sold as sleep aids.
Coquis are no threat to the environment. While coquis are effective insect consumers, they are not depriving native birds of insect food. There are plenty of insects to go around. In fact, no scientific study has shown coquis to be a problem in Hawai‘i, despite being in Hawai‘i for 20 years.
However, spraying acid and caustic lime into the environment does harm plants, non-target animals and soil micro flora, and poses a threat to humans. Burning frogs to death with acid and lime is also extremely cruel, taking up to 45 minutes to kill, and leaving many frogs alive, but burned and suffering. Lizards, birds, spiders and insects are also burned and killed by this indiscriminate poisoning of the environment.
Keep in mind that coquis are filling an relatively empty niche in Hawai‘i. There are plenty of insects (most of which are introduced and are invasive pests) and few insectivores. Coquis fill a needed role as insect predators, and are beneficial to the ever changing Hawaiian environment. In addition, there are predators for coquis in Hawai‘i, including native and introduced insect-eating birds, cats, rats and other coquis. Since coquis hatch as tiny froglets that are the size of insects, any insectivore will eat a coqui frog.
Finally, since the coqui is now part of the Hawaiian environment, efforts to control their spread will have to be endless. Current control methods are ineffective and environmentally polluting. Past efforts to eradicate coquis from Kaua‘i have failed. They will most likely fail again. And new colonies will inevitably appear. Acceptance is the only rational solution, especially when you realize that Hawai‘i doesn’t really have a frog problem: it has an attitude problem.
• Sid Singer heads the Coqui Hawaiian Integration and Reeducation Project on the Big Island.
