Frogs have been around as long as we can remember. They were so rare when I was a kid, it’s unbelievable how they’ve made their way into every backyard in the last century. Unlike other pests that are controlled by pesticides or predators, frogs don’t seem to want to go away!
The “what does it mean when you have a lot of frogs in your yard” is a question that may be asked by homeowners. There are 8 methods to get rid of the frogs.
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An amphibious invasion of your basement through basement or egress windows may be quite annoying, whether it makes you hopping furious or gives you a frog in your throat.
You probably don’t want these frogs invading your personal space, whether you think of them as charming pets, irritating pests, or anything in between.
Worse, the frogs in question may not only jump into your basement but also die there if you don’t act immediately.
That’s not something you or the frog want, so follow these procedures to keep your egress windows and basement area frog-free.
What Causes This to Happen?
To begin, it’s important considering why frogs enter your basement in the first place. Why do they enter a massive walled-off area, cut off from the rest of the world and confined there indefinitely, as if they were a group of froggy Fortunatos from “The Cask of Amontillado”?
Thankfully, it isn’t as serious as that, but if left unchecked, the issue may quickly spiral out of control. The major reason frogs end up in basements is because they jump down and then find themselves unable to hop back out due to the high walls.
When they enter your basement by an egress window, there may be many feet between them and the ledge from which they arrived, making it impossible for them to exit.
Furthermore, owing to their endangered status, certain frogs are protected in the United States and Europe. It would be even more awful if a frog on the verge of extinction died in your basement due to an open escape window – but why are frogs drawn there in the first place, even with the open egress window?
As perplexing as their continuous presence may be, you may end up thanking frogs for turning up since the reason they hopped down into your basement in the first place is usually due to a water issue on your end.
Even while on land, frogs need moisture and must dwell near it. If your cellar and the surroundings around it are bone dry, it’s unlikely to attract you.
Frogs may be attracted to your basement if there is water in or near it, as well as the space’s inherently dark and cold character.
In other words, if you see a lot of frogs in your basement, it’s likely that you have a plumbing issue, standing water from rain or floods, or anything similar.
With that in mind, here are eight of the most effective ways to keep frogs out of your basement and egress window area.
Method 1: Close the Egress Window
The most simple and apparent approach to keep frogs out of your area is to close the egress window. Of course, this isn’t always practicable or failsafe, which is why additional options are provided below, but it does keep your egress window shut while you’re not using it.
Method #2: Think about your sump pump and drainage system.
As previously said, plumbing issues might be one of the primary factors attracting frogs to your basement. While most frogs enter via your egress window, some may also enter through a sump pump.
Failure to maintain the cap on your sump pump or drain it correctly might result in a buildup of foul pond-like water that frogs love, and they’ll take advantage of it.
As a result, ensure sure your sump pump is correctly drained, which means the water is flushed out into the sewer or another plumbing system.
If you flush the water outdoors instead, the frogs will cluster there (if they haven’t already) and, as the adage goes, it’s only a hop, skip, and a jump away from your egress window and basement, restarting the process.
Drain the area and remove weeds and debris (method #3).
Even if there is no accumulation of water in your sump pump or basement, various sources of standing water might attract frogs, such as:
- Birdbaths
- Swampy terrain
- Bowls
- Ponds with koi
- Pools
- Your grass has puddles.
The latter should be completely emptied, while the other water features should either be completely drained or have pumps and covers placed to keep them dry and keep frogs out when not in use.
In addition to appropriate drainage, you must keep the area around your basement, as well as any egress windows and openings, free of weeds. Other types of trash, such as leaves and twigs from neighboring shrubs, should also be removed.
The combination of these variables should make it difficult for frogs to conceal, making them more visible and simpler to identify, allowing you to shoo them away before they come close to your egress window and into your basement.
Method #4: Dispose of Frog Food
Frogs, like every other animal, are highly motivated by food. When it’s present, they’ll go to any extent to obtain it, even if it means descending into a potentially hazardous region like your basement. When you take away the food, you take away the motivation for them to engage in such deadly daredevil actions.
Insects are the most frequent food source for frogs, therefore finding methods to get rid of them will also help keep frogs away from your property and thus away from your egress window.
Frogs congregating near your basement egress window and egress window may suggest a plumbing issue, but it might also imply a concealed bug smorgasbord for them to enjoy, and therefore an infestation you need to address before it gets out of hand.
In this case, organic pesticides are your best friend. They may keep the frogs away by repelling the insects that attract them.
Furthermore, lighting fixtures near your basement egress window should be avoided since insects like to swarm to them like moths to a flame (or fluorescent light), bringing their froggy predators with them.
Finally, some frogs may consume food leftovers or pet food that has been left lying about, so clean it up and keep it away from access points to your house, such as these egress windows.
Make sure any pet food bags or containers you store in the basement are completely covered and not exposed.
Remove Reproductive Areas (method #5)
In addition to food, all animals, including frogs, are motivated by the need to reproduce. If they believe your basement is a good spot to lay their eggs, or if they’ve already done so, they’ll probably do it again, or perish trying.
You’ll want to scoop up any eggs you notice and take away any tadpoles, in addition to protecting the room from getting too moist. If you leave them in dry locations, the following generation of frogs will die off, putting a stop to the invasion.
If you want to be more humanitarian, you could put them in wet containers and send them to a moist environment where they can develop naturally.
Natural Repellents (method #6)
There are a number of simple DIY natural frog repellents you may employ to keep frogs away from your egress windows, including:
- Citrus juice
- Seawater and salt
- Caffeine concentrate
- grinds of coffee
- Water and vinegar
It’s worth noting that the first three possibilities are all unpleasant and, in some cases, fatal chevaliers.
If you don’t want to kill them, the scent of grinds of coffee and a water-vinegar solution (which will cause an uncomfortable burning sensation on its feet but leave it unharmed and able to hop away) are better.
Chemical Repellents (method #7)
If the natural frog repellents on this list haven’t worked, you may need to step up your game (and arsenal) with chemical-based repellents. Chemical-based repellents that may keep frogs away include snake repellents and herbicides.
However, since they are more poisonous and might therefore badly hurt or kill them, this should only be done as a last resort.
Adding Mesh to Windows and Sump Pumps (method #8)
Finally, mesh barriers may be the solution if locking the windows isn’t an option and frogs keep coming into your sump pump and pipes. Before buying any mesh, be sure you measure the space and properly fasten it to the area so that water does not get in and frogs do not.
Frogs play an important role in ecosystems all throughout the globe. If you can avoid killing them, you should do so and instead try to remove them in a gentle manner.
Whatever caused the frogs to invade your egress windows, one or more of these ways should be able to keep them out for good.
The “how to keep toads away from your house” is a question that has been asked many times before. There are 8 methods that can get rid of the frogs in your egress window.
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