The American Toad is easily 
     
     recognized by its rather thick, wart 
     
     covered skin and its large, prominent 
     
     parotid glands. With its compact form and 
     
     thick skin, this species is well adapted 
     
     to minimize water loss and thus to life on 
     
     land. The presence of a large urinary 
     
     bladder, which can be used as a water 
     
     storage organ, and its capability to use 
     
     the tubercles on its back legs to dig 
     
     backwards into the soil further increase 
     
     its capability to lead a terrestrial life. 
     
     Adult American Toads range in size from 2 
     
     inches to 4 1/2 inches (5.1 to 11.4 cm.) 
     
     with females being the largest 
     
     individuals. Once adulthood is reached, 
     
     growth is slight. Mortality is very high 
     
     in the first year and their population 
     
     turns over quite rapidly. In exceptional 
     
     circumstances, individuals can survive to 
     
     8 years of age. 
     
    

    
     The warts and parotid gland of toads produce a sticky white substance 
     
     which is highly toxic to some animals. If this mucus is transferred to one’s 
     
     mouth by handling toads, it can numb the mouth tissues. Certain animals such 
     
     as garter snakes have adapted there physiology so that they can eat toads 
     
     while certain other animals have learned to eat the flesh but not the skin. 
     
    

    
     The feeding strategies of toads include both stalking and sitting still. 
     
     They flip out their tongue and its sticky pronged tips are used to capture the 
     
     invertebrate prey. If it doesn’t fit into the toad’s mouth, the front legs 
     
     will be used to stuff in the protruding parts. The toad usually eats its own 
     
     skin when it is shed. 
     
    

    
     This species is common in a wide variety of habitats ranging from fresh 
     
     wet habitats to deciduous and coniferous woodlands. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     TRBBFROGS 
     
     SPRING PEEPBR 
     
    
   
   
    
     The shrill peeps of the Spring Peeper fills the warmer early spring 
     
     evenings with a crescendo of sound. These vocalizations are made by the male 
     
     Spring Peeper utilizing its fully inflated vocal sac. Their vocalizations 
     
     peak in April or May depending on the temperature. More muted calls may 
     
     continue on dull days into late fall. 
     
    

    
     This treefrog is characterized 
     
     by the presence of a prominent dark 
     
     diagonal cross marking on its back 
     
     and a black bar between its eyes. 
     
    

    
     Its base back colour ranges from 
     
     light to dark brown or sometime 
     
     reddish. The males have a yellow 
     
     throat sometimes heavily marked by 
     
     dark pigment. This a partially 
     
     arboreal (tree climbing) form which 
     
     is known to climb low bushes.