Introduction
The California Fish & Game Commission (FGC) meets regularly to discuss important topics, including American Bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana, Lithobates catesbeianus) and the California Department of Fish & Wildlife’s bullfrog importation program, which allows over 2 million live American Bullfrogs into the state each year. Members of the general public can speak at these meetings and/or submit comments in advance.
The letter below was submitted by SAVE THE FROGS! Founder Dr. Kerry Kriger in advance of the FGC’s October 11th/12th, 2023 meeting, at which the FGC is expected to make important decisions related to the fate of the state’s bullfrog importation program.
You can submit your own comment by emailing it to fgc@fgc.ca.gov before 12pm PST October 6th, 2023.
Dr. Kerry Kriger’s October 6th, 2023 Letter To The California Fish & Game Commission
You can scroll through the PDF to read it here, or click the down arrow to download it to your computer.
American Bullfrogs are fabulous in their native habitats. Our goal is to reduce their influx into and impact on ecosystems in which they are non-native. Photo of American Bullfrog from Ladew Topiary Gardens in Monkton, MD by Robert Zunikoff
“No Californian needs to eat, jump, or keep as a pet, an American Bullfrog. Even if they did choose to partake in these activities, there is no reason why they would need a LIVE bullfrog imported in from a foreign country. A frozen frog or a live frog harvested from the feral bullfrog populations of California would suffice and would be far less ecologically harmful than a live imported frog, which would bring with it all its viruses, fungi, bacteria and ectoparasites, and would possibly escape or be set free in the wild to prey upon, compete with, and spread diseases to California’s native amphibian populations.”
– Dr. Kerry Kriger
