They're TOADally Awesome!

Their dry warty skin and close association to witches in fairytales and medieval history has fuelled many misconceptions surrounding the common toad (Bufo bufo). It is commonly thought that handling a toad will give you warts, or that toad pee will make you go blind. In folklore dating back to the 20th century, it was believed that a toad in your house indicated that an enemy was nearby or that great misfortune was to soon come your way. These misconceptions and myths have given this amazing garden amphibian a bad reputation, which we hope to redeem.

A very charming common toad wishes you good day. Photo by: Elizabeth Dack

Distribution

The common toad, as its name suggests, is common throughout mainland Britain and the Isle of Wight. However, is absent in Ireland, Northern Ireland, the Scottish Islands, the Isle of Man, the Isles of Scilly and most of the Channel Islands.

Habitat

Despite their widespread distribution, toad populations have declined by 68% over the last 30 years due to habitat loss. Toads inhabit woodland, scrub and coarse grassland, deep leaf litter, log piles, and gardens. During breeding seasons toads occupy deep freshwater bodies, such as garden ponds, farm ponds, reservoirs, and fish and duck ponds. Increased urbanisation and agricultural intensification have caused a decline in habitat availability and quality. Toads rely on waterbodies for reproduction, however outside of breeding season, toads spend little time in ponds, as they are tolerant of drier conditions.

Toads In Gardens

Toads love to gorge themselves on slugs and snails, and other invertebrates. Gardens are particular hotspots for all things slimy or six legged, therefore, you may find a toad happily living in your garden. Toads are very important for your garden as they help control the insect, slug and snail populations. Befriend a toad, and you will never need to by garden pesticides again! In fact, garden pesticides and chemicals, such as slug pellets, are very bad for amphibians, like toads, as they can be ingested and absorbed through the toad's permeable skin, leading to decreased health and even death.

You can help make your garden more appealing to toads by not using garden chemicals, and providing more habitat for them, such as areas of long grass, log piles, rock piles, a small pond, or a toad abode (check out our activities page to learn how you can make one yourself!). Having a vegetable patch will also encourage toads into your garden as there is often a high density of suitable prey around these kinds of habitat.

Fun Fact: Van Morrison's brown eyed girl was actually this toad. Photo by: Jon Hawkins

Identification

Common toads are typically brown or olive in colour, although colouration can vary, and have golden eyes and stumpy legs. Females are usually reddish in colour or have reddish coloured warts. Males are smaller than females, growing to 8cm, whilst females can grow up to 10cm. Toads are easily identified by their dry "warty" skin. These "warts" aren't actually warts at all, and are in fact glands that contain a toxin giving the toad a foul taste- a defence mechanism to prevent predators from eating them. These toxins are of no harm to you, although if you do touch a toad, remember to wash your hands before and after. However, it is advised to only handle toads if you have experience. Toads can also be identified by the two pronounced lumps on the back on the head. These are the parotoid glands, which also contain these defensive toxins. Toads have a distinct crawling walking motion, which differs them from frogs, which hop. However, toads are known to hop when escaping a predator quickly.

Diet

Common tods are most active at night, in particular, damp nights when prey is more abundant. Toads predate upon insects, slugs, snails, spiders and even small mammals. Toadlets typically feed on ants, flies and insect larvae. If a toad finds a habitat with a large food supply, they will stay there for a long period of time. Toads do not have teeth, and instead eat by swallowing their prey whole. They hunt using visual cues, however are generalist feeders, eating anything small that moves.

This stylish individual is accessorizing with some duck weed. Photo by: Fred Holmes

Simply stunning. Spot her in the next issue of Toad Vogue. Photo by: Fred Holmes

Reproduction

Common toads migrate long distances during breeding season (February/ March) in search of a mate. They can travel between 50m to 5km over the months of Spring to find love. Toads follow the same route every year to reach their ancestral breeding grounds. Unfortunately, many of these migratory paths have since been intercepted by roads, which results in many amorous toads falling victim to road kill. It's estimated that 20 tonnes of toads die every year in the UK whilst crossing roads during their migration. This is having a considerable impact on their population, contributing to their decline.

During breeding season, toads will return to the pond in which they were born and gather there in large numbers. Males will arrive at the pond before the females and patiently wait for their future lover to arrive. The males will then fight for the female’s attention. The lucky male that impresses the female will then climb onto her back and grip on using special nuptial pads on his forearms. After a week of breeding, adult toads will migrate away from the pond and find other habitat to live in before hibernating over autumn and winter.

The average female will lay 1500 eggs, however as many as 5000 eggs from one individual has been observed. Toad spawn is easily distinguished from frog spawn, and is commonly described as a "string of pearls". The spawn is wrapped around vegetation in the pond, and will hatch within 2-4 weeks. Toad tadpoles are black in colour, with stumpy tails and chunky bodies. Toad tadpoles group together and swim in large shoals. After 16 weeks, the tadpoles will develop back legs and then front legs. In early summer (typically May) the tadpoles will finally emerge as tiny toadlets.

Fun fact: The same toxins found in the glands on the adults' skin are also found in the skin of the tadpole, giving the tadpole the same unpalatable taste and making them a less appealing meal to predators!

The forbidden bubble tea (aka toad spawn). Photo by: Howard Inns

This chunky tadpole will grow into one gorgeous toad. Photo by: Howard Inns

Alexa, play Let's Get It On by Marvin Gaye. Photo by: Fred Holmes

Predators

Toads are predated on by hedgehogs, rats, mink, herons, crows and birds of prey. The toxins in their skin is typically an effective defence mechanism, making them unpalatable, however this defence does not deter grass snakes, who enjoy the taste of toad and toad toxins. Small carnivores have also been known to remove the toad's toxic skin, before eating it.

Tadpole larvae are predated on by the great crested newt, and aquatic invertebrates, such as dragonfly larvae, great diving beetles and water boatmen. Aquatic invertebrates can avoid the toxins in the tadpole’s skins by stabbing the tadpole with their proboscis (a specialised mouthpart) and sucking out the tadpole’s insides.

In addition to their toxin filled glands, toads also have a couple other defensive tricks up their sleeves. As a way to make themselves seem larger than they are, toads will puff up their bodies. When all else fails, toads will pee on their enemies in hopes that the attacker will drop them.

Toad vs grass snake: the ultimate showdown. Photo by: Fred Holmes

Toad Conservation and How You Can Help

Common toads are listed as "least concern" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, however as previously mentioned, toad populations are facing tremendous declines due to loss of habitat and traffic accidents. Drainage of wetlands has reduced the availability of suitable wet woodland and pond habitats, and increased urbanisation disrupts historical migratory routes.

Toads are protected in the UK against sale or trade, by the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. Due to their recent declines, the common toad is also listed as a Biodiversity Priority Species under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006, meaning their presence must be considered during property planning and development. They are also listed as a Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework.

You can help by building a garden pond to provide new breeding sites, or by letting areas of your garden grow wild, and building log piles toad abodes. You can follow our toad abode guide and pond guides to find out how to do this. You can also check out our facebook page for more toad friendly tips and tricks. You can further help toads by volunteering with your local conservation organisation, or donating money to fund conservation action. Volunteering to be part of a toad patrol helps toads cross the roads safely during their quest for love. You can find out more about your local toad patrol here: http://www.froglife.org/what-we-do/toads-on-roads/.

Famous Toads in Pop Culture

Trevor The Toad from the Harry Potter movie franchise. Tevor the toad, played by six smooth sided toads, features in films 1 to 3. However, their acting career was short lived after being fired for peeing on actor Mathew Lewis, who played Neville Longbottom, one too many times.

The Frog Choir from the Harry Potter movie franchise. Despite being called "the frog choir", this choir is actually comprised of hogwarts students and toads, one of which is our dear Trevor. We think they sing beautifully.

Mr Toad from the novel Wind and The Willows by Kenneth Grahame. Mr Toad of Toad Hall is one of the leading characters, and is a wealthy squire. You can find Mr Toad stylishly sporting a tweed suit and recklessly zooming through the countryside in his sports car.

Hypnotoad from the cartoon TV show, Futurama. Hypnotoad is a giant toad with ocillating multicoloured eyes, which it uses to hypnotise people and other animals. Freaky, but we still love him.

The Toad from the movie, Flushed Away. The Toad belonged to a young Prince Charles but was unfortunately replaced by a pet rat and flushed down the toilet, fuelling his hatred towards rats and leading him to plot a mission to flood the sewers and wash away all rats once and for all.