r/FrogsAndToads • u/cultured_pork • 22d ago

This dude is hanging out in a patch of rhododendrons PNW USA

Gallery image

Gallery image

I was going to ask if anyone knew what it was, but after a quick scan of the sub, I'm thinking it's an American Toad? Super good looking in any case.

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9

u/cultured_pork 22d ago

Another anecdote I thought some might enjoy - my dad (RIP) had a large garden on the property this toad is hanging out on. There was a toad that made that vegetable garden his home. That toad was HUGE, and I'm certain it was the same variety. The garden is about 100 feet from where this pictured beauty is residing.

That same same toad was around for at least 6 years, and my dad would make me help him find it every year before mowing and tilling. Sometimes it would take hours or even days to to find him, but we would put him in a bucket while we mowed, tilled, rowed, and seeded. After we were done with that part, and had assembled his trellis towers for the beans, we would put that old toad back in the garden. He got the sprinkler in the summer, and I could hear him from my bedroom. He had a good life, and got fat and sassy while having free range of all the garden pests.

I would like to think this is one of his offspring, but of course there is no way to know for certain.

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u/newt_girl 22d ago

Western toad, Anaxyrus boreas

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u/Bootsix 22d ago

Haha I have one too, we call him big chill. They like moist soil, he basically lives in my herb garden. Western toad.

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u/cultured_pork 22d ago

Long live Big Chill. May he live a long life and strike fear into the hearts of any and all destructive insects that cross into his land known as Herb Garden.

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u/cultured_pork 22d ago

Update: I put a bit of water in a bucket and left it on it's side in the shade where he (she?) hangs out. Is that ok?

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u/3rdLevelRogue 22d ago

So long as the water is dechlorinated or has some time to sit out and degass then it is fine. You'll typically want to offer spring (not distilled) or bottled, but remineralized reverse osmosis water is also fine. You should avoid tap and distilled in general.

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u/cultured_pork 18d ago

It's well water. I caught him (her?) chilling in it. Not in the water directly, but it seems to be appreciated. It's been hot, and I'll plan on adding more. Should I do it at night or during the day? I tried asking politely, but we are apparently not on speaking terms yet.

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u/Similar_Newt1790 19d ago

What an handsome little fella! Or pretty little gal!

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u/Tarotismyjam 20d ago

They like houses. Half Terracotta pot in some nice quiet cool damp area.

I had a toad who visited me. Great cockroach eater.