Monday, April 14, 2008

Gotcha!

Still no toads to be found in our pond or pools--but down the road, things are hopping!
American Toads, in their nighttime frenzy to find a mate--
boldly clasping anything (or anyone) who is near.
























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16 comments:

NW Nature Nut said...

Do they just jump on your hands readily? How neat! I always enjoy your writings and photos. I love how you see the details in everything.Thanks for sharing.

MojoMan said...

Hey! Is that legal in Ohio??

Cicero Sings said...

These are great photos!

Mary said...

Nina, you beat me to it! I have pounds of toad spawn, too :o) Not in the last few days. It's downright cold!

We'll compare toads at night in the next day or two :o) (Outside with a flashlight, huh?)

Rurality said...

Hly cow, great shots! I am never that lucky with frogs. Getting their pictures, I mean. I swear am really not trying to "get lucky" with frogs, LOL.

bobbie said...

Really great pictures! I love frogs and toads. Don't know what the attraction is, but I've always loved them. A few years ago we had dozens of tiny ones around the house. Haven't seen any for a long time.

pink dogwood said...

cool pictures

Carolyn H said...

Nina,

Great toad photos! I haven't found any this year yet up on my mountain!

Carolyn H.

Tom said...

I've been seeing long stings of toadspawn for a week or two now... hopefully it will be a great year for our frogs and toads. And a great years for yours as well.
Tom

cestoady said...

Toads are such great animals --they have such subtile dignity and character.They are not as defenseless as they look for that large ,raised wart-like paratid gland near the eye and ear,shown so well in the last photo,is nothing to mess with. I doubt that many (any ??) preadators find toads delicious.

Texas Travelers said...

Well, just how cool is that?

Great post.
Always enjoy your site.

Have a great week and come visit,
Troy and Martha

Mel said...

Great post!
The pictures are amazing, is like watching Animal Planet ;)

TR Ryan said...

Your writing of toad sex in Ohio the same day I'm writing about seal sex in Hawaii -- wanna trade places???? please?

Lisa at Greenbow said...

What action. I still haven't heard any here.

Anonymous said...

Amazing photos of these toads! I just love hearing them vocalizing at night!

nina at Nature Remains. said...

Yep--that's my exciting life...outside, hanging around the pool with a flashlight!
And, yes, they actually crawl eagerly toward ANY object placed near them--even what would appear to be a predator's outstretched fingers (or a green frog, or another male--) and hang on for dear life!

I wonder if, as you mention, Bobbie, the lack of breeding pools might be a difference in the numbers you see? So many people drain these areas and so much development has erased them, that if you need water to breed, you're out of luck!

And their warty appearance, with bad-tasting, burning secretions does little to protect them from us.