Western Toad Western Toad
Western Toad Tracks
Natural History of Western Toads
Toads are nocturnal amphibians who roam overland looking for insects. They are most active at night because the daytime heat would dry them out. During the day, they hide under logs, boards, rocks, burrows of their own construction, or in rodent burrows. They get around mostly by walking, rather than hopping like frogs do. They will hop to escape danger.
Tracks are often indistinct, unless they are found in soft mud. Usually the tips of the toes leave round dots and drag marks in the sand. The drag marks point in the direction of travel.
Western toads have dry, warty skin and a light stripe down the back. They often travel far from sources of water, although they do require water for breeding.
In the soft sand of river bars, the drag marks from the hind toes are very prominent.
They breed between January and September. Long strings of eggs in a jelly-like substance are attached to vegetation in still, shallow water. The tadpoles emerge from the eggs and live in the shallows feeding on vegetation until they lose their tails and metamorphose into toads.
If you handle toads or other amphibians, remember that insect repellents, sunscreens, and other substances on your hands can damage their delicate, sensitive skin. You will not get warts from toads.
Personal Notes on Western Toads
Toads are frequently seen at night. I have found them near water and far from water. They apparently don’t need to be near a large body of water. Their tracks were puzzling to me at first. I found the fine traces in soft sand and it took a lot of thought to figure out exactly who made them. Then, I watched a toad move across a river bank. After taking a look at its tracks, I knew was able to solve the mystery.
I have never heard the voice of the western toad. I don’t even know if they make sound. Where I live, the most commonly heard amphibian is the Pacific treefrog.
I was somewhat surprised to find that toads prefer walking rather than hopping. It still amazes me when I walk down to the river bar in the morning and see all the toad tracks. There certainly are a lot of them out there. Morning is the best time to see the tracks, before the wind has erased the little delicate imprints.
Got a toad story? E-mail me and tell me about it.
Copyright © 1997. Text and drawings by Kim A. Cabrera
