How To Keep Frogs (And Their Droppings) Off Your Porch All Season Long

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We can all agree that a soft porch light on a dark evening is really quite inviting. Well, it turns out that there are others who agree. That warm glow of your porch light could accidentally be calling out to all the neighborhood bugs, which then attracts all the local frogs to the party as well. It basically turns into the food chain live in action on your front step, and it often ends with the frogs leaving a mess that is much harder to ignore.

So if you're finding yourself dealing with frogs and their droppings during the spring and summer season, you need to first make your home much less appealing for their prey by keeping the lights off when not required. You can also buy yellow LED "bug bulbs", like those by L LOHAS LED Store on Amazon, which can significantly reduce the bug buffet that the frogs so enjoy. And then there is moisture. Standing water –whether it's in a clogged gutter or an open swimming pool –creates a very inviting atmosphere for amphibians, so it's best to keep pools covered and porches dry when possible. 

Finally, clutter cannot be overlooked. If you have a smattering of potted plants, tall grass or piles of leaves near your porch you are accidentally creating the perfect cool and shaded hiding spots for frogs. Clearing some of that from your porch could make a big difference. Of course, some people actually want to attract frogs for the natural, free pest control that they provide but if you're looking for a cleaner porch this season, then follow this advice.

There are a few more deterrents that can really drive the message home to visiting frogs. Some scents alone are enough to keep frogs away. Spraying diluted white vinegar or a citric acid solution spray (about half a cup mixed with 32 ounces of water) around entry points does the trick. Unlike using harsher chemicals, vinegar solutions aren't actually dangerous for wildlife and create a more natural repellant. However, citrus acid can harm plants, so use with caution.

Frogs also dislike certain textures, preferring soft and damp surfaces. To make your porch less habitable, you can place gravel and sand around the perimeter to create a landscape boundary. This is also an unexpected use for leftover coffee grounds, as coffee mixed into soil stings their feet enough to keep them away. And if you want to create a more solid boundary, mesh screens or nettings can be used to block off the entry to your front porch. Of course, deterring frogs from your garden isn't always a good idea from a pest control standpoint, and so this should be about reducing their numbers, not removing them entirely.