Toads in my garden

[toadlover]

Hello

I am new to the forum, but wanted to share my toad stories. I have a pesticide free garden and love to invite in wildlife. Last Fall while on vacation I brought home some tiny toadlets that were in and around camp area. To my delight they have grown into happy healthy toads in my garden. I see them mostly at night, crawling along..in search of food. They look fat and happy and are now about the size of my fist. I dug a hole and out in a plastic container with water from a local creek, along with some natural plants found growing in the creek. Now I find the toads have found the watering hole in the garden, which makes me quite happy. I add a little water to the watering hole when too many river rocks start drying out and water levels get lower.

They seem to like it and are thriving - I am hoping that they lay eggs there. I picked up a healthy sized toad last night - no noise squeaking and such so guessing female? Is it true that they will eat their young? Love this forum as I have always enjoyed toads.

Any feedback is certainly welcome

[Heatheranne]

Welcome to the forum .

How fun! Congrats on your nice outdoor home for them.

[arielgasca420]

I live in nor cal as well and I am familiar with these native toads. We have a few pots with water in it and a small waterfall that we do not run. I have noticed a few tadpoles here and there and I just leave them be. I think your main predators would be rodents and birds. If you want to be positive that they will survive I would bring them inside until they are big enough to be on their own. you will have to feed them and look after them, but it sure is a fun and interactive experience

[Namio]

Hello toadlover, thank you for sharing the story with us! What part of NorCal do you live in may I ask? Chances are, you have western toads (Anaxyrus boreas) in your backyard. Unfortunately, these toads tend to breed in lakes and slow-moving parts of rivers so they may not breed in your yard. But the water source you set up will probably attract Pacific chorus frog to breed in around next March! Tadpoles and toadlets of western toads are fed upon by some birds, garter snake, and some predatory insects. But once adulthood is reached, all those warts (glands) produces nasty secretion which repels most predators. I don't know if this species exhibits sexual dimorphism, but a mature male should have nuptial pad on thumbs of forearms and are capable of calling.

[toadlover]

I live in Vallejo California. I have added a small pond to the backyard, which they seem to enjoy. The toads are not babies they are about the size of the palm of my hand. I do hope that they stay in the garden.