Toad in raised bed!

jennieshrew

We have just been digging all the cat poo out of our raised bed ready for planting new things in it and we have found a toad hibernating in it!! Has anyone else ever found this? We have covered it back up and I guess we need to just leave it there until it decides to crawl out again.... How odd, we arent really near any ponds or anything.

tanith

Toads actually don't hibernate in water but bury themselves lightly in leaves or soil.. it about the time they start to rouse themselves now and they will find a nearby pond to meet up with other toads and do what comes naturally, they may travel quite a way to do this often crossing roads etc...

oldsam

I think when we put up a greenhouse my wife moved at least 20 toads from beneath plastic sheeting , which was put down over winter , They burrow into the ground and come out for breeding time March - April . They like the greenhouse very much at least three or four are in there -Which keep slugs and snail under control . also get frogs visiting along with Sloworms which is legless lizard here in southern central England .

jennieshrew

Toad update - we covered it over with compost and it has made a little hole to look out of or breathe or something, anyway its very cute and keeps looking up at us through the hole. Perhaps it is waiting to leave tonight after being disturbed. Good to know they eat the slugs, wish it would stay now!

charliee_3

good job you didnt put the fork through it.. yuck!

Wookey

I usually found mine with the lawnmower....

Errata

Toads also make tunnels, we had one that used to commute via a tunnel from underneath the summer along a flower border to underneath the garage.
Cherish him/her - it will eat your slugs as fast as it can.

conradmum

Well, I just disturbed a hedgehog and a frog digging out my compost bin today. (I actually gave the hedgehog a poke with my fork accidently :eek: but it seemed okay.) I relocated it to the bit of the heap that's rotting down. :A

foxgloves

Toads & frogs eat loads of slugs. He's definitely a friend. We all need as much help with slug control as possible!

papadoc

You say it has made a hole & is poking out looking at you, are you sure it's in a raised bed or could it be Toad in the Hole?

Blackpool_Saver

tanith wrote: »

Toads actually don't hibernate in water but bury themselves lightly in leaves or soil.. it about the time they start to rouse themselves now and they will find a nearby pond to meet up with other toads and do what comes naturally, they may travel quite a way to do this often crossing roads etc...

aaaw bless, that made me smile