My daughter has taken an interest in frogs and toads in recent weeks. Seems like we spot a couple on our lawn every day, so we chase them, hold them, let them go. This morning I started looking for websites describing how to raise one or two of the critters inside a terrarium or aquarium. Not sure we’re really going to do this–haven’t even started to broach this delicate subject with my wife, who is not a great admirer of amphibians–but thought I’d look into what’s involved. One of the first things I came upon was this federal government website, which offers this helpful advice, right at the start: “As with any wild animal it is best to leave it in its natural conditions and enjoy it in its natural settings by attracting it to your house/garden. If you are interested in keeping a frog/toad, you must first check to see if it is protected by local or national laws. In the U.S.A. you should check first if the animal is listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act. If not, it may still be protected in your state by local laws. Check with your state department of environmental conservation/natural resources/fish and game etc.” Thanks Uncle Sam, you sure do know how to spark a kid’s interest in animals.