7.23.2005

Yet Another Toad

After work yesterday we went for a short walk -- short because it is so humid here you need gills to breathe!

There weren't too many critters out and about, but we did stumble (literally) across this very chubby toad along the way. It appeared to be a Southern toad, Bufo terrestris, but it is hard to be positive. Toads have an inconvenient tendency to hybridize.




This toad was fat and looked even fatter in my hand because it was puffed up in defensive mode. Toads try to make themselves too big to swallow by puffing up with air.


He eventually decided that I wasn't going to swallow him and raised his head to look around. He must not have been too afraid of me because he didn't pee on my hand when I picked him up. And no, you will not get warts from picking up toads!

After snapping a few pictures I set him back down and he hopped off into the woods.

(Oh, and in case you haven't figured it out yet, I love toads!)

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Fascinating, as Mr. Spock would say. No other word for it. I'm deeply envious (not in a bad way) of your life and knowledge. Thanks for passing it on to the rest of us. Cathie in Cleveland

SquirrleyMojo said...

Uh, he looks p*ssed . . .

Keith "Nurse Keith" Carlson, RN, BSN, NC-BC said...

We met a friendly little toad along a lovely woodland river today and held him in our hands---no photos, sorry. He let us stroke his back and then settled near us on the bank for a while as we chatted. Cute little guy....

Crystal* said...

He's such a cute, little thing. I'm sure he guessed your nature friendly nature (heh) and decided not to wet on you. I like the toads, but I LOVE the froggies.
Grins*

bennysmith said...

Oh,my god, I am afraid of it! I am sorry!
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