When was the last time you saw a frog in Louth?

When was the last time you saw a frog in Louth? 

It may be hard to remember. That is why Louth County Council are calling on the public to record sightings of frogs across the county. 

The council, alongside the Irish Peatlands Conservation Council is seeking the public’s help to paint a clearer picture of how frogs are faring across the county. 

The common frog is Ireland's only frog species, and despite its name, it  is listed as a vulnerable species across Europe. To help protect populations of the Common Frog in Europe and at home, it is now a legally protected species under the European Union Habitats Directive and the Irish Wildlife Act.

There were only two records of frogs received from recorders in County Louth in 2025. It is not clear whether the population of Common Frogs is declining in County Louth as there is so little local data.

The Irish Peatland Conservation Council and Louth County Council Biodiversity Office are therefore asking people to become “citizen scientists” and take part in the “Hop To It” frog survey this year.

 Since 1997 the Irish Peatland Conservation Council has coordinated Ireland’s longest running frog survey, the “Hop To It” frog survey. This citizen science initiative asks members of the public to record and submit their observations of the various stages of the Common Frog (Rana temporaria) lifecycle. 

 Helen Hanratty Louth County Council's Biodiversity Officer, said the public can contribute to important datasets by reporting any sightings.

“Public reporting of sightings of species like the Common Frog can really help to build a clearer picture of the status and trends of individual species but also track wider biodiversity trends at a local and national level. Citizen science initiatives like the “Hop to It” survey are valuable ways for people to help to contribute to important datasets which can be used to guide environmental management decisions.”

If you observe one the various stages of the Common Frogs’ lifecycle including frog spawn, tadpoles, froglets or adult frogs in your garden or the wider local community please submit your observation to the Irish Peatland Conservation Council at www.ipcc.ie or e-mail bogs@ipcc.ie or call 045-860133

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.