Reservoirs Dried Up by Drought: Why Bullfrog Fishing Failed

According to a TV Saengmul Dogam video released on September 10, 2026, a group of bullfrogs, an invasive species, was discovered in a small to medium-sized reservoir in South Gyeongsang Province, where the water has dried up due to recent severe drought. Taking advantage of the situation where bullfrogs have gathered in puddles, which serve as their last refuge due to the extremely shallow water levels, the cast members carried out a sweeping operation to capture the bullfrogs.

Bullfrog Habitats and the Condition of Puddles Revealed by Drought

The cast member conducting the field exploration confirmed that the water in the reservoir is almost completely dried up due to the drought. Egrets were observed standing in the shallow areas, and numerous spots that looked like stones were floating on the water surface, but these were all bullfrog individuals. Adult-sized bullfrogs were gathered in groups along the water's edge, and they were captured densely packed in the puddles where the water had receded.

In particular, not only bullfrogs but also a massive number of crucian carp fry were trapped inside the puddles, showing a serious state of ecosystem imbalance. The cast member mentioned that the water is extremely shallow, saying, "There must definitely be many fish trapped in here." Noting that the water has never receded to this extent, the cast member judged that now is the best opportunity to eradicate the bullfrogs and requested reinforcements.

Attempts and Obstacles in Capturing Bullfrogs Through Fishing

At 6:00 AM the next day, the reinforcements gathered to capture the bullfrogs began their full-scale operation using fishing gear. The reinforcements included 'Jjeolten', who is serious about bullfrogs, the bullfrog specialist hunter 'Chung-geun', and 'Yasahannmok members'. However, contrary to expectations, the operation was not smooth. This was because the bullfrogs reacted very sensitively, repeatedly hiding whenever the fishing tackle approached. The cast member experienced difficulties, such as searching for other puddles when the frogs noticed and stopped moving, saying, "They all hid because they were startled by the casting."

By changing fishing techniques to target frogs stuck to the bottom or by attempting to slowly sweep the surroundings, they succeeded in capturing one male bullfrog. The male bullfrog confirmed at the scene had a very bloated belly, suggesting that the individuals overate due to the abundant food within the isolated puddles. The cast member explained, "Males aren't usually this bloated, but this one is full," adding, "It is the nature of bullfrogs to eat even when they are full." Meanwhile, the video also mentioned an observation that the size of bullfrogs in the southern regions tends to be smaller than before.

Unexpected Results of the Sweeping Operation

The cast members expected to catch dozens of bullfrogs through this operation, but the final result was completely different from their expectations. They failed to catch even a single one through fishing and eventually only managed to catch one using a scoop net. This is analyzed to be because the frogs reacted extremely sensitively to the fishing tackle and hid. During the work, the weather remained sweltering enough for a heatwave warning to be issued, causing extreme physical exhaustion for the cast members.

The cast member expressed regret over the shocking result of not catching a single one through fishing, saying, "I never imagined they wouldn't bite because they are the type to eat even when full." This video showed how difficult a planned eradication can be due to the sensitive reactions of invasive species and environmental factors, even in situations where specific organisms are concentrated due to drought.