Our catch phrase is on its way.
Dear Fellow Earthlings,
Whatever happened to Steve Walker, the Earthsaver, the Jingler, the Preserver of languages, dialects, cultures, life forms, the one who hounds people in high places?
Rest assured, I have not given up! Currently I am trying to rid the 4 ponds on my Oregon property of bullfrogs.
The bullfrog was brought to Oregon by people from the eastern part of the United States so that they could enjoy frog legs cuisine. But -- as is usually the case when humans interfere with nature’s balance of life forms -- bullfrogs are now constituting a great threat to Oregon’s indigenous amphibians and turtles.
Because of this, I am determined to rid my Oregon property of rana catesbeia. During the past weeks I have gigged them, hooked them, speared them, clubbed them, and shot them. One pond is now bullfrog free, but the other three are not. In fact, one of the ponds still contains about 8,000 of the creatures, in all stages of life: eggs, tadpoles, adolescents, and adults. In that particular pond, the only other fauna who seem capable of coexisting with the bullfrog is the yellow-bellied rough-skinned newt, whose body contains a poison that makes it unappealing to most would-be predators.
I am seeking the aid of government agencies as I attempt to get rid of each and every bullfrog on my land. At this point I still have several types of frogs native to Oregon on my property. But I must not fail in my effort to rid my Oregon land of the bullfrog. If I fail, most of the other frog species on my land will disappear.
What is ironic is that I love bullfrogs. They are so intelligent, so proud, so beautiful. But they have to go! Let them flourish in their native eastern United States habitats (where predators such as water snakes keep their numbers in check) -- but may they disappear from Oregon!
Steve Walker Earthsaver and Jingles Creator
© 2013 Steve Walker, The Jingles-The Japan Foundation for English Pronunciation, Summit Enterprises.