Lessons from the bullfrog and fly

I walked slowly along the shore of a pond on a recent rainy afternoon, looking for something interesting to photograph. In the clear water I noticed a largemouth bass patrolling the pond edge. I estimated the bass to weigh about 3 pounds. The bass seemed to sense my presence, backing slowly into deeper water, but stopping where I could still see it.

Hoping to photograph the bass, I took a cautious step and nearly put my foot on a bullfrog. It jumped but did not go into the water. As I photographed the bullfrog, I realized that it knew the bass was waiting in the water to eat it. Likewise, the bass acted as if it knew the frog was there and was anticipating I would scare the bullfrog into the water where it could catch the frog.

I took my photo at close range, thanked the bass for "taming" the frog and left without startling the frog into the water.

In nature, survival often depends on sitting in a safe place. Notice the small woodland fly that is sitting on the frog's head just above the frog's circular-shaped ear. The fly also seems to know where it can safely sit, for the bullfrog would eat it if it could catch it.

The American bullfrog is North America's largest frog. It may grow to weigh about two pounds.