how toads defend themselves

The Disappearing Toad

leeduigon(patty)September 4, 2022

I’ve always liked toads; they have a lot of personality and make pretty good pets. Here’s a toad demonstrating one of the secret techniques of Toad-Jitsu–burying himself in sand to elude a predator.

The biggest, fattest toad I ever saw was camped out under the electric bug zapper by night at the Sea Spray Motel, Beach Haven–snapping up every bug that fell onto the shuffleboard court. Did he have it made, or what?

The second-biggest were the ones in Aunt Louise’s garden: “hoptoads,” she called them. Something about her garden really drew the toads. Well, she was an awfully nice lady. Toads pick up on that.

Weird Showdown: Toad vs. Cat

leeduigon(patty)September 30, 2021

(Yeah, I know, they call it a frog; but take my word for it, it’s a toad.)

This is a very wise cat: he knows there’s nothing to do here but back down. It looks like the toad is eating cat food, but I think he’s just snagging bugs attracted to the plate. Adopt a toad sometime and see how far you get, offering him cat food.

Toads defend themselves by excreting poison through their skin–enough to make a cat or a dog seriously ill. I once saw a dog named Lulu pick up a toad in her mouth. Bad move! She was sick all day, and lucky to recover.

Note: There’s another toad in the background. Reinforcements, just in case the cat gets rowdy?

Leave the Toad Alone!

leeduigon(patty)January 21, 2020

Whoever filmed this video seems not to have known the difference between a toad and a frog. The dog didn’t know, either.

I shall elucidate. The largest and most common toads in North America have a pale stripe down the middle of their backs, which can be clearly seen here. No frog has this.

I knew a dog named Lulu who once picked up a toad in her mouth. Within minutes she was a tower of pain and had to be rushed to the vet. Toads defend themselves with poisonous skin secretions which can make a dog very sick (you should have seen poor Lulu).

So, however amusing the dog’s antics might be, it’s a really bad idea to let him mess around with toads. Unless you find vet bills amusing, too.

P.S.–That’s “Music Box Dancer” playing in the background. I always liked that song.