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My yard is infested with these guys, can you identify?

JustineNYC

JustineNYC

New member
I store my doggie pool under the deck and tonight I pulled it out from under there.


ERRRRRRR!

Not only does a black racer go scurrying away, but frogs begin to leap EVERYWHERE!!!

I couldnt yell at the dogs fast enough. It was like someone tossed 18 toys into the air!

This guy was only the size of a quarter.

What is he? Any guess?

Are any poisonous, cause I have a bad habit of picking them up.

6369_1153324478235_1381370960_30642201_3924303_n.jpg



6369_1153324518236_1381370960_30642202_2855504_n.jpg
 
He's a toad of some kind. They are poisonous, but I don't know how bad it would be for your dogs. I'd definitely try to keep them away from them.

I'll bet you just have had a bunch of them change from tadpoles somewhere near. They will clear out in time, or at least be rare enough that you won't have to worry too much.

Bet the racers are trying to take care of that problem for you. ;)
 
They aren't a problem for you to touch however. I'd just not let the dogs munch on one just in case..
 
It looks like a good old American Toad to me. They aren't poisonous to pick up or anything, but if your dog bites one it could be a big problem. They do secrete a very harmful liquid if they're bitten, and I've heard of animals dying as a result. Not to worry you, they are harmless for the most part, but be sure not to let your dogs eat them or anything.
 
Thank god. My neighbors dog ate one and got real sick, but mine are pretty good with the "leave it" command which is what I used tonight.

Whatever they are, my subdivision is infested with them. When I mow my front lawn, 5 or 6 go leaping in every direction. When I walk my dog at night, I see them hoping down the sidewalk as we pass. I almost stepped on one last night, and all this time Ive been thinking "Thank god they arent in my yard" and they are living under the deck.


No wonder that lab got sick....I didnt kniow toads are poisonous. Figures they have some sort of defense cause you can reach down and they let you pick them right up.
 
Nanci said:
Aw, Southern Toad.
Click to expand...

Nanci, do they range in appearance, a few of the larger ones were almost black in color.

I assume they eat insects, do they not need water? We dont have any bodies of water close by, they just seem to hang out where my gutters run down the house and where my air conditioner pipe drains. Always where its wet.
 
JustineNYC said:
No wonder that lab got sick....I didnt kniow toads are poisonous. Figures they have some sort of defense cause you can reach down and they let you pick them right up.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure how poisonous, a large dog will probably just get sick, but it could be deadly for a cat or small dog.
 
No, I had them in my yard when there was no water for miles. (Now that I have the water garden, they breed here!) I can not comment on how toxic they are, but the toad that is so worrisome is the marine or cane toad, which is HUGE, like as big as your hand, and totally different looking- think eyes that are as big as an owl's, and they are smooth and long and flat. I don't think you get them up there. I _believe_ this toad is just distasteful and would cause anyone who picked it up in their mouth to spit it out with no real harm. I've handled and (kissed) them my entire life with no ill effects. I haven't actually eaten one, though. :)
 
Nanci said:
No, I had them in my yard when there was no water for miles. (Now that I have the water garden, they breed here!) I can not comment on how toxic they are, but the toad that is so worrisome is the marine or cane toad, which is HUGE, like as big as your hand, and totally different looking- think eyes that are as big as an owl's, and they are smooth and long and flat. I don't think you get them up there. I _believe_ this toad is just distasteful and would cause anyone who picked it up in their mouth to spit it out with no real harm. I've handled and (kissed) them my entire life with no ill effects. I haven't actually eaten one, though. :)
Click to expand...

See, I am from NYC and have no experience with this. The first one I picked up, I saved from getting run over with the mower I actually thought to myself "Oh god, dont people get warts from picking up toads?" and my second thought was "do these things bite?"

I was going to yank out the weeds along the back of my house, but they were scurrying into them and I felt bad they had no "cover" to hide in so I left them.

This is why we have all these snakes hanging around, I apparently have some in my crawl space.....do the snakes get ill when they eat these guys?


Anyway, these little guys are just the cutest little things. He actually sat right on my thumb for like 5 minutes.
 
tom e said:
I found this site for you. It even has the toads' calls so you can identify them by sound if nothing else..
http://www.bio.davidson.edu/projects/herpcons/herps_of_NC/anurans/anurans.html

I'd guess American Toad.
Click to expand...
It is!. I'm not 100% sure, because toads look similar, but I'm 95% sure that it is an American Toad. They wouldn't be poisonous to touch, and most likely wouldn't be lethal for your dogs, but I'm not an expert. They will love to relieve themselves on your hand, though, so be warned. It's pretty gross!.
 
tom e said:
I found this site for you. It even has the toads' calls so you can identify them by sound if nothing else..
http://www.bio.davidson.edu/projects/herpcons/herps_of_NC/anurans/anurans.html

I'd guess American Toad. Near identical spots on that ones back as picture number two in the American Toad link..
Click to expand...

I think you are right, and the american toads calling is what my yard sounds like at night! Thanks for that! I never wouldve guessed it was a toad making that noise.

According that those maps the southern toad is not found in my area, but the american toad is.
 
Sometimes those maps aren't completely accurate, but when I look at picture two, I'm pretty darn sure of the specimen you're holding in your hand.
 
Ricky87 said:
It is!. I'm not 100% sure, because toads look similar, but I'm 95% sure that it is an American Toad. They wouldn't be poisonous to touch, and most likely wouldn't be lethal for your dogs, but I'm not an expert. They will love to relieve themselves on your hand, though, so be warned. It's pretty gross!.
Click to expand...

I think so now too. And that site said they can breed in small puddles, which makes sense why that is where I always find them.

They're awful calm when you scoop them up. Hopefully no one will poop on me.
 
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