Building the Traps

Building the Traps

Herpetology Project 2013

So far in our project, we have only accomplished the most important step: building the traps that catch the frogs and other animals that we can then analyze. The pitfall traps are designed to catch the amphibians humanely and without injuring them. The basic concept is to build a fence, partly buried in the ground, with pits spaced 10 meters apart. The frogs are unable to go under the fence, and when they walk down the fence looking for a way across, they fall in the pits, which are deep enough to prevent the frogs from jumping out.

This is the fence we built! A pit can be seen in the center of the picture.

To build a fence like this one, the first step is to dig the pits, spaced 10 meters apart. The pits should be about 2 1/2 - 3 feet deep. Next, dig a trench that connects all of the pits. The base of the fence, which can be constructed from basically any material(our fence was constructed of plastic tarps and PVC pipe), is buried in this trench. Hammer the fence poles into the ground to keep it upright, and your pitfall trap system is complete! We have already met success with the traps, catching both and American toad and a green frog.

This is the green frog we caught!

I wonder what else we will catch?

-Johnny