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frog spawn image via Shutterstock

Frogs are spawning all over the place and that means it's OFFICIALLY spring

But please don’t touch the spawn – it’s really bad for the frogs and it’s also very illegal.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN spotting frog spawn all over the country this week and that means it is now officially spring.

Billy Flynn, an ecologist for the Irish Wildlife Trust, told TheJournal.ie that spawning usually begins in Ireland once the weather starts to get a bit milder.

The common frog, which is the only species we have in Ireland, is actually considered a “threatened species” by the trust as their wetlands habitat is at risk.

“There’s been lots of habitat loss in Ireland, lots of wetlands have gone, mostly though agricultural improvement and the development and expansion of towns,” Flynn explained.

Though frog spawn is something that can be a source of nostalgia for people, particularly from rural areas, who used to collect some of it as children and raise a couple of frogs in a bucket or puddle, the ecologist strongly discourages this.

It is, in fact, illegal to collect frog spawn – unless you are a teacher and it is for educational purposes.

If the illegal aspect of it isn’t enough of a deterrent, Flynn stressed that this could have a massively damaging effect on the frog population in Ireland.

“Please don’t touch it, it’s terribly vulnerable stuff. They produce masses and masses of eggs but that’s because many of them will die. This is something that depends on our help and depends on not interferring in any way and to leave them alone as much as possible.”

If people really want to get involved, he suggests sending information about any frog spawn or just general frog sightings to the Irish Peatland Conservations Council for their national survey.

Read: Mystery in Kildare after discovery of 250 dead frogs>

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18 Comments
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    Mute Philip Cooper
    Favourite Philip Cooper
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    Feb 19th 2015, 6:17 AM

    My frog totally controls me.

    I’m a frog’s pawn.

    196
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    Mute Eugene Walsh
    Favourite Eugene Walsh
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    Feb 19th 2015, 6:25 AM

    Toadally controls you!

    191
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    Mute Mr Phil Officer
    Favourite Mr Phil Officer
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    Feb 19th 2015, 6:34 AM

    What happened when the frogs car broke down?
    It got toad away…
    You can keep me coat :)

    129
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    Mute Feltrim History
    Favourite Feltrim History
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    Feb 19th 2015, 6:39 AM

    Had a frog on my kitchen yesterday! Took ages to get him out. He hid beneath the oven and just brazenly stared at me. Cheeky fecker.

    138
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    Mute Brianog2
    Favourite Brianog2
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    Feb 19th 2015, 7:38 AM

    Feltrim yo should have kissed him.!

    78
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    Mute Kitty Prendergast
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    Feb 19th 2015, 7:57 AM

    Under the oven? Silly frog, lucky you aren’t French! Oven on, dinner served! Voila!

    70
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    Mute Charles J. Ahern
    Favourite Charles J. Ahern
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    Feb 19th 2015, 8:49 AM

    Bullfrogs?? Id have called them chazwozzas!

    69
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    Mute Eugene Walsh
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    Feb 19th 2015, 6:08 AM

    Here comes the summer.
    Here comes the summer.
    Da da dada daaaaaaa.

    62
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    Mute Vincent Van Gogh
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    Feb 19th 2015, 8:05 AM

    The swallows will be home soon…

    49
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    Mute fuve
    Favourite fuve
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    Feb 19th 2015, 7:59 AM

    Ah the days when you went to the ponds and caught frogs and spawn. They are over now. I wonder do kids still do that?

    37
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    Mute Michael Connolly
    Favourite Michael Connolly
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    Feb 19th 2015, 12:10 PM

    They have an app for it now

    44
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    Mute mrgillhouley
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    Feb 19th 2015, 6:08 AM

    The misery merchants would prob like it to stay winter forever

    17
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    Mute Glen
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    Feb 19th 2015, 6:57 AM

    Oh the irony.

    80
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    Mute Derek Moran
    Favourite Derek Moran
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    Feb 19th 2015, 8:01 AM

    I remember having frog spawn fights as kids. Picking up handfuls and throwing it at each other. it used to be everywhere. Haven’t seen it in years. Stupid kids.

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    Mute Todd Hebert
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    Feb 19th 2015, 7:54 AM

    Funny, the calendar doesn’t say march 21st yet.

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    Mute Winston Teardrops
    Favourite Winston Teardrops
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    Feb 19th 2015, 11:56 AM

    It said Feb 1 a couple of weeks back. All that matters to us here in Ireland.

    9
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    Mute Michael Sands
    Favourite Michael Sands
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    Feb 19th 2015, 4:19 PM

    They are just randy…

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    Mute leslie skinner
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    Feb 19th 2015, 7:17 AM

    What a load of toad stool

    8
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