Feature Article June 12,2003
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America ToadBy Jean Griffin
Welcome to my garden! The American Toad is a visitor to be desired in your garden, as it will devour unwanted insects and slugs. It may not be very attractive to look at, with all its warts, but you could say it has character.
Common in suburban backyards, they occur in forests and meadows. By day, they live under rocks, logs or other debris, or burrowed in loose soil, while at night they move from cover to forage. After hibernation, the American Toad moves toward water to mate and you will hear the mating calls in May and June. The mating call is a melodious trill lasting between 10 and 30 seconds. Mating takes place in temporary pools or other shallow areas where the water heats up faster. This allows rapid development of eggs and tadpoles.
Sometimes, the male toad errs in distinguishing between males and females, and grasps another male as a mate, provoking a loud cry of objection. When the male grasps a female, he will hold on for days until she lays her eggs and he fertilizes them externally. These eggs are released from the body in long strands of three or four lines numbering between 4,000 and 20,000 and attached to objects underwater. Eggs hatch within three to twelve days, depending on the water temperature, and the tadpole or polliwog stage lasts for 6 to 7 weeks. The toadlets measure just 0.5 to 1 cm in length, and remain near the edges of the breeding pools for some time.
Toads have a dry, "warty" skin. The "warts" are glands that contain a white sticky substance or toxin intended to deter predators. Handling toads will not cause warts in people, though it is advisable to wash your hands after doing so. Some predators such as the Garter Snake have developed adaptations that allow them to eat toads. They swallow them whole and digest the poison with no adverse effects. A major predator of the American Toad is the Raccoon, which avoids the toxins by turning the toad over and eating through its under side. This species is also predated by owls, snakes, and skunks which also appear to tolerate the toxic substance. However, domestic animals, such as dogs, run the risk of death if they consume a toad. More often they reject it after a bite, but even this causes the dog to froth at the mouth!
Toads will consume any type of invertebrate currently available, especially ants, beetles, slugs, spiders and mites. Although they are not overly specific in their choice of food, they are not able to identify a food source unless it is moving. Following this, a toad will stalk in a cat-like fashion its potential meal until it is within striking distance. The fleshy tongue, which is attached at the front of the toad's mouth will come out and catch the insect, returning it to its mouth. The movement is so rapid that it is extremely difficult for us to see it happening.
Due to its somber colouring, the American Toad blends in well with its environment. When the skin is shed, it uses its feet to pass the skin, which it may eat, to its mouth. This toad defends itself, when attacked, by inflating its body to increase in size and show its poison glands, or it simply plays dead. In late fall preparing for hibernation, this toad buries itself under one metre of loose soil, drawing its head between its forelegs and the hind legs close to the body. See you next spring! Observations: In Oconto Helm had a Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly on June 3, Painted Turtles laying eggs on Jun 6, and a Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Jun 8. Ludwig Ratzinger, Crow Lake, saw about 60 Brant on Jun 6 and has been watching a Pileated Woodpecker and a Great Crested Flycatcher. Ross Herron from Flinton reports fledged American Robins, and watched a young Snowshoe Hare chasing robins back and forth across the lawn - both seemed to be enjoying the game. Call with your reports - 268-2518.
