you ungrateful toad
Really. Some amphibians!
I was weeding on Sunday with my five feathered 'helpers' and they were jumping on anything that moved. I came across this toad. He didn't even attempt to flee. And five pairs of chicken eyes spied him and moved in. Just seconds away from being pecked to messy, toady pulp, I whisked him away and carried him to an area that would be a little more secure. And how does he thank me? By letting loose a torrential toad-sized bucket of pee on my hand. Twice. 
He is Bufo americanus, the American Toad. Here is what he sounds like. It makes me really happy to find things like toads in my yard, as we are pretty far from any water or wetlands and it just isn't a common occurrence.
Be careful Toad. There are five hungry ladies scratching around looking for good eats. Hell, they even eat their own kind. They'd certainly eat a toad.
posted by meresy_g at Wednesday, June 27, 2007
10 Comments:
I loved your toad post. I also have discovered a very mellow toad and some frogs in my yard this year and have posted pictures. What so fascinating, do you think? Is it that frog to prince thing? My daughter claimed she had to kiss a lot of frogs before she got her prince. I was lucky and found my prince when I was teenager. No need for frog kissing.
I used to have toads in the garden, but now I realize that I haven't seen them in the last year or so. I wonder if the turkeys are getting them?
LOL...great pictures of Mr. Toad. Guess you'll have to get him one of those little toad houses now. =)
Like you, I'm no where near any wet lands, but found a toad in my yard several years ago. Haven't seen him since though so I'm hoping he hopped off to better places.
Nice toad... I think he might actually be a Fowler's toad though! (I was just reading about them recently.)
Look at this page and see what you think.
Well it's good luck if they pee in your hand don't cha know? Twice!
Great Toad shots!
Your posts crack me up! That first photo is way too cool - he just looks po'd - like, lady, I'm going to pee on your hand!
Love it! My cats zero in on any poor bug that wonders in the house. I can just imagine those chickens going after that toad with even more enthusiasm (as cats have their limits). Caught a rabbit hanging around outside the garden so you may be right about the bean eater!
I'm pretty sure he (or she) is Bufo americanus. The parotid glands are kidney shaped and don't directly touch the cranial crest, only touching the spurs that come off. Plus Fowlers has at least three warts in every dark spot on the back. But it is hard to tell sometimes, with variation in both species. I'll have to find him again and check out the irises and his back feet to know for sure since now I know that toad pee is good luck! ha.
I hope that you all see toads soon, as I fear that the decline in amphibian populations due to climate change is touching our own backyards now. I would hate to see a time without toads.
What an odd sound! I hardly ever encounter frogs or toads anymore. So much disappearing habitat. I feel so sorry for animals (well, that word usually means furry things, but you know what I mean).
Well done. I have a pet toad of the same type. His name is Toad Scuba. He talks just like yours does! I was playing with him this morning before work and he let loose his urine all over me and my floor this morning, and I wanted to know if toads urinating on you caused good luck... Let's hope that it does. It does, however, cause you to change your clothes for work...
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