{"id":7720,"date":"2019-07-12T22:33:24","date_gmt":"2019-07-13T02:33:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/?p=7720"},"modified":"2019-07-12T22:33:24","modified_gmt":"2019-07-13T02:33:24","slug":"mississauga-american-toads","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/mississauga-american-toads\/","title":{"rendered":"A Day of Toads and Thunderstorms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On a sultry July afternoon I escaped for an hour to the wilds of Riverwood in Mississauga hoping to find a few butterflies. Instead, it was the Day of the Toads. So I happily switched mental gears and spent my time looking at these lumpy amphibians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Photo<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What Kind of Toad Did I Find in Mississauga or Toronto?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Luckily for me, there is only one type of toad common in the Toronto area: the American Toad. So all of my photos are of these bumpy beauties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Chance Encounter with a Warty Amphibian<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first toad I encountered in an unexpected way: I had sat down on a log to rest near the Oak sap tree. I was waiting to see if any Northern Pearly Eye butterflies would appear. They often bask on the ground or sip sap on tree trunks in this area along the Red Deer trail. If I can’t immediately spot them, sometimes if I’m patient I will see them fly up when startled by another butterfly or when a dog or person steps too close.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Photo<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I did get to see two freshly-emerged-from-their-pupae Eastern Commas though I did not see any Pearly Eyes that afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then I looked sideways and looking back at me, seated in, rather than on, the log, was an American Toad !<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Photo<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I took a few photos of my neighbour, then pointed it out to a passing family. The toad grew a bit nervous of all the attention and hopped down the split log to hide — under my knapsack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I left my pack on the log while I took some photos of the Commas. By the time I went to lift it again, the Toad had re-emerged and moved further out into the sun. So hopefully we didn’t ruin its day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Just Leapt Out of My Way Into the Dead Leaves in the Forest?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The second large toad I met that day introduced itself in the more usual manner: It leapt wildly away from me jumping then scrambling through some dead leaves and grasses. As usual, I nearly had a heart attack wondering what it was as I had just been walking along the apparently-empty main trail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Photo<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, I was able to see the Toad when it calmed down which in turn calmed me down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was a smaller American Toad but it had the same lovely gold eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch Where You are Walking Near Wetlands in the Late Spring and Early Summer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I also saw two of the tiny “I just grew my legs ! ” size of toads during my ramble. As I have written previously<\/a><\/strong>, these newly matured (?) American Toads are small enough to be mistaken for insects. It’s easy to accidentally squish one so I try to step slowly and carefully when I see any around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Praying for Rain to Keep Ephemeral Pools Wet Long Enough to Protect Tiny Toad-Poles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Further around the loop, down on the Culham Trail, there was a series of small pools that previously had been connected as part of an alternate branch of the Credit River. Now the waterway was drying up quickly, stranding tadpoles in these small pools. The race was on to see if they could mature enough to become legged land-animals before the water disappeared completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Photo<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately for the hundreds of American Toad tadpoles I saw, none of which were sprouting legs yet, the rain started to come down, hard and heavy while I was admiring them. So they would have at least another two days to grow up. Hopefully that would be enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Photo<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

And for those of you who find toads interesting but not particularly attractive, I will share a photo of Hedge Bindweed that was blooming along the trail. I was pleasantly surprised to read in the Wildflowers of Riverwood book that this plant is a Native beauty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Photo<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Related Reading<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n