THE DEADLY FOUR

"I guess some people eat frogs?" Jason shudders. "Frog legs. So sometimes humans, or other animals, are predators. They hunt frogs and eat them.

"And last, invaders. What they call invasive or exotic species. Animals or plants brought from one place and released someplace else. The invaders may not have any natural predators to keep their population under control. So they multiply like crazy and basically take over."

He folds his paper shut. "That's about it so far."

Carolyn has been making notes. "So we have water pollution, habitat loss, predators, and invader species as possible causes for the decline of the Rana viridiana frogs in Slow Water Park," she says slowly. "Which of these do the protesters think it is?"

Jason snorts. "Some say it's pollution from that new clothing factory. Others say people use the park too much, and ruin the frog habitat." He shrugs. "They're not really sure what's going on."

"That's why they've asked Mr. Pierce to come up with the answer," Carolyn observes. "Now, here's something: what makes them so sure the frogs are dying?"

"This lady says so." Jason hands over a business card.

"‘Marjorie Mol, amateur herpetologist,'" Carolyn reads. "X-Treem Pet Store. On River Street." She hands the card over the seat to George.

"Righto," George says, and turns the big car around.

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