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Frog Hotel to protect mating amphibians from predators

By Wesley Oliver, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 22, 2009 2:02 PM CDT

(Newser) – Frogs have a new reason to leap for joy: a hotel specially designed to allow them to mate in peace and safety, NPR reports. Scottish environmentalists opened the Frog Hotel two weeks ago to protect the amphibians from predators. Frogs “are slowly coming out of hibernation, and the first thing they do is start preparing for the mating season,” explained an advocate.

The getaway, which resembles an underground beehive, looks less like a seedy motel and “much more like the Bates hotel in Psycho.” The advocate says the hotel is fun and productive, encouraging people to volunteer to help the environment. And other species shouldn’t feel left out, the Scotsman says. Greenies are now planning “bat boudoirs,” bee havens, and butterfly gardens.

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A Dendrobates tinctorius- Patricia morph Poison Dart Frog from Sean Stewart's collection is shown Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009, in Ellicott City, Md. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)

A Oophaga pumilio- Solarte morph, Poison Dart Frog from Sean Stewart's collection is shown Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009, in Ellicott City, Md. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)

A pair of golden poison frogs are shown on exhibit at the Museum of Discovery and Science during a preview Tuesday, May 20, 2008 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Environmentalists in Scotland have opened up Britain's first Frog Hotel. (Shutter Stock)

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The first thing that the frog will come to is the compost café, an area full of bugs and bees. There's a little ramp that takes them upstairs to the sleeping area, and there is a place where frogs can meet and greet other frogs. - Robert Henderson, environmentalist

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Greenies Push Safe Froggy Sex With Hook-Up Pad