Each year common toads often migrate back to their breeding ponds, they will follow the same route which often means coming face to face with busy roads that block migration paths. Unfortunately this results in a number of toad casualties each year. There's plenty you can do to help toads, but first we want to share some facts about these fascinating amphibians!
Terrific Toads
It's a busy time of year for Toad Patrollers across the UK who are out in the evenings recording vital data and helping toads cross the roads!
(c) John Bridges
What’s the difference between a common frog and a common toad?
Toads tend to be much larger than the common frog, has shorter legs and warty skin. Frogs hop whereas toads walk or crawl! When out and about try looking for the different types of spawn, frogspawn is laid in large clumps whereas toadspawn is laid in long strings of two rows of eggs per string. The average female toad will produce around 1,500 eggs and after 10 days the tadpoles will emerge. There’s also a difference in tadpoles too, with toad tadpoles black in colour and frog tadpoles are greener.
(c) Alan Price
Where to find common toads?
Common toads are found almost everywhere in woodland, grassland, gardens and hedgerows. They are most active at night and so during the day they conserve their energy under logs and stones, they will also use these sheltered places to hibernate during the winter.
(c) Nick Upton/2020VISION
What do common toads eat?
They mainly feed on slugs, snails and other invertebrates that can be easily found during the night. Some larger toads are known to eat slow worms, harvest mice, grass snakes and even younger toads.
(c) Linda Pitkin/2020VISION
How do common toads breed?
The males make a piping call to attract females and fight with other competing males. If the female is impressed, the male grasps the female around the waist using special ‘nuptial pads’, this is known as the ‘amplexus’ position whilst the female lays her eggs.
How can you help?
There’s plenty you can do to support common toads. You can let wild patches grow in your garden and leave log piles to encourage toads to shelter during winter. You can also get involved in your local ‘toad patrols’ by visiting the Froglife website. Their 'Toads on Roads' project has been running for over twenty years, click the link below to find out more!