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Okie Dokie, Coqui

Smaller in diameter that a dime and cute as can be, the coqui frog is nonetheless much maligned here on Hawaii Island. Many view the little buggahs as disruptors of the peace, invaders who have turned our once quiet evenings riotous. By contrast, the bitty frogs are much beloved in their native Puerto Rico, and threatened there as a species. But they thrive here, the first of them having arrived as stow-aways on imported plants sometime in the 90s. Named for their sound -- coQUI, coQUI -- only the males sing, and only after dark. During the day, the frogs are quiet. For a time, it was all out war against the frogs. The county advocated and supplied a variety of chemical sprays -- caffeine, citric acid, hydrated lime -- with huge promotional campaigns aimed at eradication. They're still here, more than ever and in the Puna and Hilo districts here in The Big Island, it would appear that, for lack of funding in these austere times and a waning of the will to murder the little beasts, they are here to stay.

When we first moved to the upper Puna area known as Glenwood, there were no coquis here. Now? Listen for yourself. This fifteen-second soundtrack was recorded from my back lanai. It started with one, a couple of years ago. Last summer, we could identify two or three within earshot. This year, it's dozens, or maybe scores. Here's what they sound like.




Not everyone hates the coquis. Though still a minority, there is a growing faction that has come to terms with these raucous amphibians and, I admit, I'm one of them. And now, local experts agree, too. Time to lay down our arms in the fight against the frogs.

Yes, the coquis are non-native. So am I.  So are many of the people here, and most of the plants and animals. To say that the frogs are disrupting the "status quo" would seem an indefensible argument.  The natural balance of these islands was altered with the arrival of the first humans and has been under siege ever since.  Frogs are dying off in alarming numbers worldwide due to climate change, pollution and habitat degradation. Here, it would seem, one renegade species has found a haven. It's true they have no natural predators here, but for the occasional chicken or cat who gets lucky. So there numbers are legion. And yes, they undoubtedly eat native insects and compete for food with other native and non-native creatures. Scientist worry that, if snakes are ever introduced to Hawaii, the frogs will be a ready food supply for the reptiles. Never mind that without the frogs, the snakes would no doubt find something else to eat. Like bird eggs (a bad thing). Or maybe rats (a good thing). Or, if we're really lucky, chihuahuas (Kidding.)  It seems a bit fatalistic to assume that it's only a matter of time before the snakes come. Fatalistic, but not unreasonable, given the record of human screw-ups of this place. Still, it seems a better use of resources to put our efforts toward keeping worse creatures out than killing off a million frogs already here. The coquis lots eat mosquitoes, too, also an invasive species, one which carries diseases that infect native birds, pets and people. We've noticed this summer to be our most productive in the vegetable garden yet, and it's possible the little coquis have something to do with that. Fewer pests mean fewer pukas in da zucchini. There are fewer gnats and beetles doing the crawl through my beer in the evenings, too.

It seems the way of things in Hawaii that humans bring creatures and plants here, either on purpose or through carelessness, for many reasons. The creatures and plants flourish. They become a nuisance. We decide we hate them and must exterminate. We endeavor to do so, always at great cost and often employing deplorable methods, and in the end, our efforts always fall short. There are still mountain sheep munching native plants on Mauna Kea,  fire ants tormenting lower Puna, feral cats everywhere, vast tracts of waiawi trees and miconia plants choking out native forests. Like them or not, they have become part of the landscape.

I'm not suggesting that what little remains endemic or indigenous to these islands should not be protected. Certainly, the diligence we all employ in keeping snakes away is worthwhile, and in keeping less onerous but nonetheless invasive, non-native species from entering in the first place. It's also on us to protect the few native creatures and plants that remain as best we can by resisting the urge to bulldoze their habitat to make it our own. But unless it's clear that the now well-entrenched coquis are a serious environment threat, it makes sense to leave them be and focus on bigger troublemakers. A recent story in the Trubune-Herald suggests that experts and government officials have come to the same conclusion. The coqui population has leveled off, they say, and is expected to remain stable here on Hawaii Island.  Millions of dollars have already been spent to eradicate the frogs, and, as you can hear, that's been a bust. If it's a choice between coquis and mosquitoes, or coquis and fire ants, or coquis and centepedes, or coquis and pigs, or coquis and Christmas Berry trees (horrible), all nastier and far more destructive, I proclaim solidarity with chatty amphibians. Long live the coqui. Our problems will not be resolved by the elimination of one small, misplaced creature to an isolated archipelago. It's our planet that's ailing, the place where we're all native, all trying to find our best place to thrive. More important that we should retrain our focus on the bigger island, Island Earth.

Comments

Okay, you made me miss Puerto Rico and our beloved coqui. I was fortunate to have one take residence near my living room/office window for weeks. I loved it. I walked every night under the Caribbean stars listening to their sound. The Coast Guard's Borinquen Air Station's mascot is guess what? A coqui frog hanging out of a helicopter ready to rescue the water-logged. Frog stuff is everywhere for the tourists. I almost bought a stuffed one that croaked "coQUI, coQUI," but it was too expensive. Maybe I should have just packed a live one home to Alaska, huh?
Anonymous said…
Great story, Toni. Send it out! Miss you. How is the writing going? Jo-Ann
Anonymous said…
Ah, the sounds of the jungle... I'm a fan of the little Coqui. You make a good point, Toni, that of the many quixotic battles waged by state governments, Hawaii's crack team of hunter/killer biologists' efforts to protect that which is "native" to the Islands is one of the silliest. Entropy and the great connectedness of all will win the day. What is "native" in any case? Ask a "native" Hawaiian in favor of independence, and they'll be sure to tell you the most invasive of all species is the haole. Never mind the schools and hospitals and infrastructure to attract those billions in tourist dollars... but that's another discussion. Said the haole. (born on Oahu, but not "native...")

Dan

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