Thursday 18 November 2010

Indoor Wildlife

You can imagine my surprise recently, when I discovered a small Common Frog (Rana temporaria) swimming in my toilet pan. I have thought very hard about how it could have got there and have concluded that it must have come through the open window and then found its way into the pan through a gap at the back of the seat. It seemed unable to scale the inside of the pan and make its escape. It was not a fully grown adult, being about 60mm long. I didn't take its picture while it was swimming about in the pan but this picture was taken after I released it in my garden ...

Common Frog (Rana temporaria)

This is the second time I have found an unexpected creature inside my house. In August, 2007, I found this male Common Lizard (Zootoca vivapara) in my porch. Again, I have little idea how it arrived there as I don't often use my front door. It had lost its tail but this had regrown shorter and darker, which I understand is not uncommon. I placed in the sun on the wall at my front door and took the following picture before it made its escape ...

Common Lizard (Zootoca vivapara)

It would be interesting to hear from others who might have had similar experiences.

10 comments:

holdingmoments said...

You get some interesting 'guests' Emma lol

I bet the frog was a surprise.

Citybirding said...

Emma, many, many years ago my mother had been visiting a neighbour and returned to find a sheep in the living room. This was in the days when you didnt lock the door when you went out.
One 'shoo' and the sheep leapt up and out straight thro the closed window. Well it was closed.

Johnnykinson said...

I once had a frog in my throat Emma !!
John

Wilma said...

Awfully hard to beat (bleat) a sheep in the living room!

I came home from work one day when we still lived in Georgia and went into the kitchen to start dinner. I opened a drawer to find a red bellied woodpecker inside. It must have come in through the window in the bedroom that we left open for the cats to go in and out, made its way to the kitchen and sought haven from the cats in the lower cupboard (the cupboard door was ajar) and then made its way up into the drawer. We were both mighty surprised. I opened the back door and it flew out.

Not nearly as exciting as the sheep ...

ADRIAN said...

A good job you spotted it before you used the facility. Both from the frogs and your point of view.

Midmarsh John said...

Had nothing like that Emma - just the odd small unwelcome furry creature.

Emma Anderson said...

Many thanks to Keith, Dick, John, Wilma and Adrian for your interesting responses. They made me chuckle, thanks.

Of course, I could have kissed the frog, been utterly amazed by it turning into a handsome prince, and might, just possibly, have accepted a proposal of marriage. However, the last time this happened, the prince walked off saying, in no uncertain terms, that he wouldn't marry anyone who went about kissing frogs - just my luck.

kirstallcreatures said...

What a wonderful find! I heard a tale of somebody finding a big white rabbit in their front room, deposited as a gift by their acquisitive cat. Thanks for your comments on my blog. L

Unknown said...

Nice shot of the Common Lizard! It sure is a Common Lizard, not a common guest, I guess ;)

Nellie from Beyond My Garden said...

You have spurred my imagination a bit too much. First I'm thinking what Adrian said about the frog's point of view, then I'm thinking of other ways the frog could have gotten into the pan. I'm sorry, I just can't help it, the mind is hard to control.
nellie
http://beyondmygarden.blogspot.com/