Catching frogs in a pond: what is allowed, what is not, and the alternatives

In spring, the pond fills with spawn. In summer, a chorus of green frogs begins singing as soon as night falls, sometimes late into the night. Some owners enjoy it, while others look for ways to catch the frogs and move them elsewhere. Before capturing any, it is important to know that in Belgium and France, native amphibians are protected: depending on the species, capturing, transporting, or releasing them elsewhere is prohibited or requires authorization. The good news is that, in the vast majority of cases, there are simpler and perfectly legal solutions. And there is one notable exception: the bullfrog, for which you should instead take action.

Why frogs choose your pond

A garden pond offers exactly what frogs are looking for: still water, shallow areas that warm up in the sun, submerged plants for attaching their eggs, and banks where they can hide. In a landscape where many ponds have disappeared, private ponds have become important stepping stones for these species. If your pond has been colonized, it is often a sign of good water quality and a welcoming environment, not a problem.

The species most commonly found here are the common frog, which lays its eggs very early in spring and then leaves the water to live on land for much of the year, and green frogs, which are much more aquatic and vocal and remain in the pond all summer. These are the frogs that sing in chorus during the warmer months, with a peak from around May to July.

What the regulations say

At European level, Directive 92/43/EEC, known as the “Habitats” Directive, protects several amphibian species. Some benefit from strict protection, while others are subject to a regime under which their collection must be regulated. Each country, and in Belgium each Region, transposes these rules into its own nature conservation legislation, often more broadly. The practical result for private individuals is that native amphibians are protected, and their capture, transport, keeping, or destruction are, depending on the species, prohibited or subject to an exemption. Moving spawn or tadpoles to another body of water falls under the same framework.

Details vary by Region or country, and the lists change: before undertaking any intervention beyond simply rescuing an animal in danger, contact your Region's nature service or, in France, the French Biodiversity Agency. When in doubt, the safest rule is simple: do not capture animals to relocate them; adapt the environment so you can coexist.

Why relocating them is not a good idea, even with good intentions

Beyond the legal framework, capturing frogs to release them “in a larger pond” raises biological concerns. Adult amphibians are strongly attached to their breeding site: many try to return, crossing roads and gardens. Transporting animals, spawn, or even water and plants from one body of water to another can also spread diseases that severely affect amphibians, such as chytridiomycosis and ranaviruses. This is why naturalists recommend not exchanging tadpoles between ponds.

The special case of the bullfrog

The bullfrog, native to North America, is listed as an invasive alien species of concern to the European Union under Regulation (EU) 1143/2014. It is very large and voracious, and its tadpoles are enormous compared with those of our native species. Its deep call resembles a distant mooing sound. It competes with and consumes local wildlife. Here, the approach is reversed: keeping, transporting and releasing it into the wild are prohibited, and its presence must be reported.

If you think you are hosting one, do not try to move it while alive. Take a clear photo, note the date and location, and report the sighting to the relevant regional authority or on a nature observation platform such as observations.be (waarnemingen.be in Flanders). The authorities will tell you what to do. Beware of confusion: a large, well-fed green frog is not a bullfrog.

Frogs and koi: a coexistence to monitor

In a koi pond, the question often comes up. Koi readily eat spawn and tadpoles, which naturally limits the population. In spring, a male frog or toad in the middle of the breeding season may also cling to a fish as it would to a female. This behaviour can injure the fish's skin or eyes if it continues. In this specific case, it is legitimate to gently detach the amphibian from the fish and place it on the bank: this is a rescue, not a capture. Then monitor the affected koi for a few days.

Practical alternatives to capture

Create a dedicated area. If you have the space, a small fish-free pond a few metres from the main pond will often attract a good proportion of the amphibians. The frogs can lay their eggs there undisturbed, and the ornamental pond remains calmer.

Organize the banks. Green frogs like low, sunny banks crowded with plants. Concentrating these areas on one side of the pond, away from the patio or bedrooms, also moves the nighttime chorus. A floating planted island can serve this purpose when the banks are steep.

Accept the season. The loudest calls are linked to reproduction and last only a few weeks. Many owners find that they get used to them, and that the population regulates itself: only a small fraction of the eggs become adults.

Maintain gently. Avoid completely draining the pond in spring and summer, the spawning and tadpole season. If cleaning is necessary, choose early autumn, before overwintering adults bury themselves at the bottom, and use a net rather than a vacuum in shallow areas.

Protect other uses. If frogs regularly end up in the neighboring swimming pool, a small escape ramp or an inclined rough board can prevent deaths from exhaustion. Covering the skimmer with a fine mesh also limits unpleasant surprises.

Recognizing the pond's main inhabitants

Knowing who lives in your pond helps you choose the right approach. The descriptions below are intentionally simplified: identifying green frogs precisely is difficult even for naturalists, as several closely related forms coexist and interbreed.

Draining, maintenance work, and overwintering: the right times

Some work requires intervention in the water: replacing the liner, removing a thick layer of silt, or repairing a leak. Timing then makes all the difference. In spring, spawn and tadpoles are everywhere in shallow areas; in summer, young frogs leave the water by the dozen. Late summer and early autumn are often the least disruptive window, before animals that overwinter at the bottom bury themselves in the mud. If you nevertheless discover sluggish frogs during a late draining, temporarily place them in a large container filled with pond water, in a cool, shaded spot, with a few plants, then return them to the pond as soon as it has been refilled. This is temporary sheltering on site, not relocation.

Always leave a corner of mud and leaves at the bottom during an autumn cleaning: this is where many animals, including frogs, spend the cold season. A complete and meticulous cleaning just before winter can be fatal to them.

What frogs bring to your pond

Before wanting to make them leave, let's remember what they do for you. Adults consume large quantities of insects, including mosquitoes and slugs along the banks. Tadpoles graze on some of the attached algae. Their presence also attracts other useful visitors, such as dragonflies, signs of a balanced environment. To better understand how to manage tadpoles without harming your fish, see our article on isolating tadpoles. And if you would like to provide more plant cover at the surface, water lilies are valuable allies: see how many water lilies to install in a pond.

Read also

To manage tadpoles without moving them far away: How to isolate tadpoles in my pond?.

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Frequently asked questions

— Are we allowed to catch the frogs in our pond?

As a general rule, no: native amphibians are protected in Belgium and France, and capturing or moving them is prohibited or subject to authorization depending on the species. The occasional rescue of an animal in danger, returned very nearby, is simply common sense.

— Can frogs be moved to another pond?

This is not recommended: it is regulated by law, adults try to return, and transportation can spread amphibian diseases. It is better to adapt the pond to coexist.

— How can I reduce frog noise at night?

Calls are mainly related to reproduction and last a few weeks. Concentrating low, planted banks away from the house, or creating a small auxiliary pond, moves part of the chorus.

— What should I do if I think I have an American bullfrog?

Do not release it or transport it alive. Photograph it and report the sighting to the regional nature authority or on a platform such as observations.be.

In summary

• Native amphibians are protected: do not capture them to move them.
• Rescuing an animal in danger and releasing it nearby remains possible and advisable.
• The American bullfrog, an invasive alien species, must be reported and never released.
• To coexist: a dedicated area, organized banks, and gentle maintenance outside the breeding season.
• Frogs eat insects and slugs and are a sign of a thriving pond.

Last updated: October 3, 2026.