There are far more frogs than people living on the island of Ireland, a survey of the frog population has revealed.
The Irish Peatland Conservation Council's (IPCC) 'Hop-to-it' Irish Frog Survey has established that there are frogs to be found in 77 per cent of Ireland's total land area.
The survey, carried out between December and June last, found frogs in every county in Ireland, though their distribution in parts of counties Cork, Tipperary and Kilkenny is more restricted. And, according to IPCC conservation officer, Ms Noreen McLoughlin, frog numbers in south Donegal and east Galway were poorly represented in the survey.
The IPCC received 1,502 records from the public in the survey period - many of which came from areas with no previous records. Combining all previous records, it was concluded that frogs were to be found in 77 per cent of the landmass of Ireland, north and south.
Asked yesterday if the survey gave any indication of the actual number of frogs in the country, IPCC chief executive Mr Peter Foss said it gave general indicators.
"I think it would be safe to say we could have anything up to seven million frogs here. I'd venture to say there are more frogs living in Ireland than people," he said.
However, the IPCC is concerned about the number of frogs being killed on Irish roads.
More survey information at: www.ipcc.ie