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 Happy (Belated) Leap Day
2008-03-5 15:51:12
 Okay, so we are a bit late celebrating "Leap Day" on Feburary 29. That special day was the kick-off for the the International Year of the Frog. Scientists are concerned that populations of the world's frogs are falling too quickly. In fact, up to half of the world's known frog species are threatened. There are many reasons this is happening. Some are losing habitat because swamps and ponds are drained. Others are eaten by introduced species; animals that are brought to an area where they don't normally live. And some frogs are becoming sick because of parasites.
Frogs and other amphibians are an important part of a healthy world. They're not only beautiful and interesting to look at and listen to, but they offer other benefits, too.
• Frogs play an important role in the food web. They are predator and prey.
• Many frogs eat insect pests, which can help limit the spread of disease.
• The skin of some frogs have special substances that protect them from infections and disease. Scientists are seeing if some of these substances can be used to treat human diseases, too.
Do you know which frogs live near your home? Do some research in the library or on-line and let us know what you find out. You can reach us, the knowms, here.
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