Help with little toad found in yard

[Betty]

Hi All-
I have zero experience with these guys but need to know if we can do anything for this little guy we found in the yard. He's been sitting in the same spot for well over a week. Seems to be badly injured in his face or quite deformed...but definitely breathing. I'm not looking to adopt him and bring him into the house, but would like to help feed etc if possible. Any words of wisdom? And, what is he??
Many thanks, Betty

[LilyPad]

My guess is Fowlers Toad. That injury looks awful Could have happened from a lawn mower or something, I'm not sure if you can save it, but you can try. If you want to see if it will eat, you can try picking up some crickets.

[nicodimus22]

Depending where you are, I'd guess it's either a Fowler's toad or a Woodhouse toad (they are nearly identical, and were once considered to be the same species.) The yellow dorsal stripe and the 3+ warts in the dark skin markings are what lead me to that conclusion.

That injury looks terrible. It could have been a lawn mower, or another animal taking a bite out of it. If the toad doesn't have a good hiding place, you can quickly and inexpensively make one with an empty and upside Cool Whip container with a door cut out, or a clay flowerpot upside down with a door broken out. This will make it feel more comfortable and likely to stick around. I'm not sure what to do for treatment of the wound, other than scooping it up and taking it to a local vet. Maybe someone here with more experience with amphibian injuries could recommend an antibiotic or something else. The toad may be under major stress from the injury and may not eat, but it's worth trying. Also, if it's been sitting there for a week, it may be dehydrated. You might want to either mist/spray it lightly, or give it a very shallow dish to soak in, since toads absorb water through their skin. Don't use tap water though, as the chlorine can be fatal (spring water is ideal.) Let us know how you make out.

[John]

You've gotten some quality advice in this thread already. For general care of toads like this, have a look at our Basic Toad Care article linked on every page of the site. I hope he recovers from his injuries.

[Froog]

That does look like a terrible injury. I would try feeding him some crickets! If yhe doesn't eat them, I'm sorry I don't know what to tell you! Good luck!

[nicodimus22]

Any updates for us? Been wondering about this.