Outside Olga Bez’s home in New South Wales, Australia, a terracotta gargoyle plaque hangs by the front door — a whimsical decoration that greets every guest who visits.
But over time, Olga realized it wasn’t just a piece of art.
It was alive.
Two years ago, she started hearing the faint chirping of a tree frog somewhere near the plaque. The sound was so close it seemed to come from inside the wall.
“I looked behind the plaque but could see no shadow,” Bez told The Dodo. “I didn’t realize there was a hollow behind the gargoyle’s face.”
When she finally took the plaque down to investigate, she discovered the secret — a little frog peeking out from the hollow, perfectly at home in the gargoyle’s grin.
From that day on, the frog made the spot his personal residence.
“He became quite bold,” Bez said. “He would sit right on top of the plaque before retreating back into the nook to rest.”
Olga and her family grew fond of their unexpected guest. Her grandkids, in particular, adored him — running to the door each visit to check on “Grandma’s frog.”
But one day last May, the kids lifted the plaque and gasped.
The frog was no longer alone.
Sharing the cozy space was a huntsman spider — large, leggy, and surprisingly calm.
“Imagine our surprise,” Bez said with a laugh.
Months have passed since that discovery, and the pair still live there together, seemingly content. Despite the fact that frogs sometimes eat spiders — and spiders sometimes eat frogs — these two appear to have formed a quiet truce.
“It’s interesting that the two got together and have continued to cohabitate,” Bez said. “I wouldn’t have thought of this combo.”
Scientists have occasionally documented similar relationships in nature. In the Amazon rainforest, tarantulas are known to share their burrows with small humming frogs — the spider offering protection from predators, and the frog eating ants that might harm the spider’s eggs.
No one knows if Olga’s wall-dwelling duo have struck a similar deal, but their companionship feels like a small miracle — a glimpse of the natural world’s quiet harmony.
“We’re just glad we’re blessed to have these wonderful critters around us,” Bez said. “They bring such joy to us — and especially to the grandkids.”
And so, every time someone visits Olga’s house, the gargoyle by the door smiles wide — secretly guarding two tiny friends who remind everyone that nature still knows how to surprise us.
