Toads live on land. Frogs live in water. Or near water. Mostly. We all know that.
Frogs lay their eggs in big sticky clumps, that resemble a cluster of small grapes. Usually stuck to something. Always underwater. Those eggs will hatch into cute little black tadpoles, and those tadpoles will gradually morph their shape, grow legs, absorb their long swishy tails, and take up hopping and making wonderful peeping sounds of a spring and summer evenin
Toads prefer the land. They are frequent diners in the garden, where they are the most welcome and beneficial of guests. Their skin is dry, and described as 'warty' although we think that's a bit speciest and unkind. It is rough. No you won't get warts if you handle one, but they can be toxic, and when afraid they secrete a substance you'd much prefer not be on your hands, so it's best to just let them be.
They do go back to the water every spring however. That's where they, too, lay huge quantities of eggs. (hoping at least some will make it past the hungry fish and ducks that graze the shorelines.) Unlike frogs, toads lay their eggs in long strands. Connected by a protective jelly, each egg is clearly visible.
These were found by the dock at Clover cottage -- curling along the lake bottom like a broken black pearl necklace. The strands are unbelievably long -- don't even attempt to count how many eggs are involved. We wish them well -- good luck. We look forward to welcoming some tiny new toads on the lawn later this summer.
Toads live on land. Frogs live in water. Or near water. Mostly. We all know that.
Frogs lay their eggs in big sticky clumps, that resemble a cluster of small grapes. Usually stuck to something. Always underwater. Those eggs will hatch into cute little black tadpoles, and those tadpoles will gradually morph their shape, grow legs, absorb their long swishy tails, and take up hopping and making wonderful peeping sounds of a spring and summer evenin
Toads prefer the land. They are frequent diners in the garden, where they are the most welcome and beneficial of guests. Their skin is dry, and described as 'warty' although we think that's a bit speciest and unkind. It is rough. No you won't get warts if you handle one, but they can be toxic, and when afraid they secrete a substance you'd much prefer not be on your hands, so it's best to just let them be.
They do go back to the water every spring however. That's where they, too, lay huge quantities of eggs. (hoping at least some will make it past the hungry fish and ducks that graze the shorelines.) Unlike frogs, toads lay their eggs in long strands. Connected by a protective jelly, each egg is clearly visible.
These were found by the dock at Clover cottage -- curling along the lake bottom like a broken black pearl necklace. The strands are unbelievably long -- don't even attempt to count how many eggs are involved. We wish them well -- good luck. We look forward to welcoming some tiny new toads on the lawn later this summer.
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