What Do Bullfrogs Eat? Exploring the Amphibian’s Diet in the Wild

The bullfrog is famous for the deep and loud sound made by the male that resembles a cow mooing. Aside from its unusual mating call, this animal is known for its extraordinary diet. As ambush predators, bullfrogs can eat almost any animal they can hunt and swallow.

What is a Bullfrog?

The American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus), or the bullfrog, is the largest real frog in North America. It can weigh up to 1.10 lb (0.5 kg) and measure up to 18.11 in (46 cm). It appears brownish or in shades of green with dark spots around their backs.

This amphibian is native to the Nearctic region, commonly found in areas from Nova Scotia to central Florida, across the Great Plains to the Rockies, and from the East Coast to Wisconsin. They were introduced to California and Colorado in the 1900s and to other continents like southern Europe, South America, and Asia.

Since bullfrogs live in water, they are usually found in ponds, bogs, lakes, or rivers, preferring warm, calm, shallow waters. They have also learned to thrive in lakes polluted by humans. The increased water temperatures and increased amounts of water plants favor them by providing a suitable environment for reproduction, growth, and defense from predators.

What Do Bullfrogs Eat?

A bullfrog is predominantly carnivorous with a voracious appetite, although their diet typically depends on size and range. Young bullfrogs can eat anything that can fit into their mouths, but as they age, they prefer more oversized prey.

Bullfrog's diet consists mainly of insects such as beetles, crickets, mosquitoes, flies, and moths. They also enjoy eating worms whose protein helps them grow and develop into adults. As this animal gets older and more prominent, they learn to catch and eat birds such as ducks, chickens, and even baby flamingos.

Rodents comprise a large part of bullfrog's diet, including rats, mice, and other small mammals. Since they are not picky eaters, they can also go after terrestrial reptiles such as snakes and lizards.

Crayfish is also one of the favorite food of bullfrogs. On the other hand, it can also have an appetite for weird items such as bats. Sometimes, these nocturnal animals get too close to the water's edge, where the frogs wait for prey.

Most people might assume that frogs eat only insects, but the fact is that they can eat anything that moves. This may include other amphibians, such as salamanders which can provide them with much-needed moisture during the hot season.

Although bullfrogs have just about anything on their diet, they also practice cannibalism which is common among amphibians. It is well documented that this animal has zero hesitation to eat smaller bullfrogs.

Bullfrogs in captivity can be fed a diet that resembles their food in the wild, including crayfish, earthworms, meal worms, and crickets. Goldfish can also be part of their diet but only in limited amounts, while mice should be given sparingly. Since these animals are prone to obesity, they should only be fed in moderation, up to two to three a week. Younger frogs, they can be provided every but only in amounts that are appropriate for their size.