Blue Ridge Wildlife Center Patient of the Week: American Bullfrog

Photos / Blue Ridge Wildlife Center

Check before you mow!

This stunning American Bullfrog was admitted late last week after an unfortunate interaction with a lawnmower that resulted in the traumatic amputation of her left front foot and significant skin loss over her right hind leg.

On intake, the frog was given pain medications and antibiotics right away as her front foot had been amputated by the mower and her right hind leg severely damaged. Once these medications were on board and the patient was fully anesthetized, our veterinarian completed and closed the amputation site and used a donated segment of skin from the frog’s back to cover the missing area of the hind leg.

In this photo you can see the graft in place over the lower leg. Skin is very stretchy, but some degloving wounds are too severe and there is just not enough skin left at the site of trauma. In these cases, donor patches of skin are taken from other areas (the back in this case) and used to cover where necessary.

This frog is bright and alert just days after surgery and enjoying her water time and basking on rocks.

Even without that front foot, this frog maneuvers well and can easily burrow into mud, swim, and capture prey. We hope to have this girl back out to the wild before the October 1st deadline (in Virginia, reptiles and amphibians that are in care on October 1st must stay in care over the winter until May 1st).

Please check before you mow! Amphibians and snakes like to hide in tall grass. Many turtles are currently moving around looking for sites to overwinter. Walking your yard carefully or sweeping/disturbing the grass prior to mowing can help to prevent accidents like this.

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