Did you know Hawaii is at war? Not with people, with coqui frogs. Here's a lesson on what to do when a tiny brown frog keeps you, and everyone else, awake at night. Wouldn't you get a little grumpy?

My husband Marty just spent two weeks in Hawaii. A good place for Alaskans to thaw out. We stayed with friends on the Big Island, near Hilo. All was bliss, until nightfall. As soon as I put my head on the pillow, I heard a strange chorus outside...

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Or, keep on reading from here...

These are coquis, a small, brown frog the size of a nickel. They were accidentally introduced into Hawaii from Puerto Rico in the late 1980s. Coqui frogs aren't poisonous, but in addition to being a major noise nuisance, they have a voracious appetite for insects, which puts native birds and animals at risk. Thus, many believe this little frog poses a big threat to Hawaii's fragile ecosystem.

Coqui frogs are an invasive species, just like African honeybees and kudzu. According to the website invasivespecies.gov, the invasion of nonnative species is one of the greatest threats to the world's ecosystems. (Loss of habitat is #1). In fact, the U.S. spends $120 billion dollars each year to control and repair the impact of some 800 species infestations.

While coqui frogs can announce their presence, for invasive plants it's another story. Once established, invasive plants silently spread like wildfire across parks, preserves, and roadsides. Introducing alien plants is all very innocent. You visit a brother in England and sneak a few plants back in your checked luggage. Yes, about half of the worst invasive plant species in North America were brought here intentionally for their medicinal, ornamental, or food value. And ironically, many garden centers unknowingly sell invasive plants, shrubs and trees.

So what can we do? For starters, learn about your region. And go online. There are many state, regional, national, and international groups organized to educate the public about invasive plants. And, many communities have Invasive Plant Councils as well as Don't Plant a Pest programs and community weed pulling events where you can pull weeds and dine on fine pizza.

In Hawaii, homeowners are learning how to deal with coqui frogs. They're encouraged to inspect all potted plants and spray their property with citric acid. And since it's the male's mating call that makes all the racquet, people have learned that raking leaves, introducing chickens and pruning here and there stirs up their habitat which tends to, how should I say, interrupt their plans of romance.

END NOTES: Is Hawaii's frog war really necessary?

According to HawaiianCoqui.org (where I found the lovely coqui frog photo):

"Whether the frogs are good or bad is a matter of opinion. But one thing seems certain: the frogs are in Hawaii and are here to stay. For some, this means war. For others, this means acceptance.

"Some people consider coqui frogs in Hawaii to be invasive aliens that threaten the environment and the quality of life. Others consider the frogs exotic immigrants who can improve the environment and quality of life in Hawaii.

"Some people hate the nighttime mating song of the frogs, which keeps them awake. Others enjoy the coqui's bird-like chirp and find that it soothes them to sleep, like the sound of crickets."

Some want to kill the frogs. Methods include spraying habitat with acid and freezing or cooking the frogs, considered by CHIRP--get this, the Coqui Hawaiian Integration and Reeducation Project--to be inhumane practices. Others want to save them. It's a very interesting argument, with "millions of dollars spent" to eradicate the small frogs.

Get involved! Download the frog poster from HawaiianCoqui.org and post it at work or have your local library order the book, "Panic in Paradise! Invasive Species Hysteria and the Hawaiian Coqui Frog War."

Meanwhile, If you plan to visit Hawaii, pack a set of earplugs with your swimsuit.