I saw this baby American toad hopping around the yard. He’s really cute and as you can see, he’s only about an inch long--smaller than a leaf. These toads are common in fields and backyards. All they need is access to a freshwater pond or other water source for breeding, vegetation for cover, and a supply of insects.
American Toads are nocturnal but I sometimes see them hopping around the garden in daylight hours. I’ve noticed that one enterprising toad sits on my front porch every night to take advantage of the multitude of bugs attracted to the front porch lights. They eat all sort of insects, earthworms, spiders, grubs, beetles, and snails. American toads have that sticky tongue they can flick and catch their prey.
Even though they can live a long time, there’s a lot of hazards so most toads don’t last but a year or two in the wild. I’m hoping that this little guy makes it. I need all the toads I can get to keep my garden bug-free.
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