When the outside comes in

I live in the bush primarily because of the close proximity of nature OUTSIDE my house. Occasionally however the borders are breached and wildlife invades the inside space. Every winter we expect house mice (not native) to try and find a warm and dry spot to live inside the building. The microbats that inhabit the roof space infrequently are seen fitting around our living room only to disappear in the crack between the wall and the door frame.

I was however surprised this week when confronted by an Eastern Banjo Frog or Pobblebonk Frog (Limnodynastes dumerilii), pictured left, peering from beneath the kitchen shelving. Embarrassingly, sticking to its body (pictured below) was an accumulation of dust, lint and fluff (must have brought it in from outside!).

Pobblebonks are burrowing frogs that spend a lot of time underground. In dry seasons or during hot days they will dig themselves a shelter and then come out after it has rained. The call, said to resemble a banjo string being plucked is quite distinctive but the frog, which can call even if it is underground, is rarely seen. Most people come across pobblebonks when they unearth them whilst digging in the garden.

Don’t be concerned if you happen to dig up a frog. They will soon dig themselves underground again. More concerning is if you dig up half a frog.