Critters of North Idaho: Western toad

If you see a four-limbed amphibian that hops, be careful not to assume that it is a regular frog. There is one species of hopping amphibian in the Idaho Panhandle of a slightly different breed: the western toad. Aside from rhyming with road instead of bog, what distinguishes this little guy from its froggy cousins?

Before we answer that question, let’s properly introduce today’s critter, shall we? The western toad (Anaxyrus boreas) is an unassuming amphibian found throughout western North America, from southern Alaska to northern Mexico. They can come in a variety of different colors, be they moldy green, tan, reddish brown, or even yellow, and with dark blotches. A healthy adult will measure about 2 to 5 inches from snout to vent.

But how do we know we’re looking at a western toad (or any toad for that matter!) and not a frog? Well, there’s actually an interesting thing about toads you should know: scientifically speaking, there is no difference between toads and frogs. In fact, toads ARE frogs! How can that be?

A “frog” is any species belonging to a particular group of amphibians called Anura. Within this group, frogs come in all shapes and sizes. Toads represent just one family of frogs. So what separates them from other frogs?

Perhaps the most obvious difference is their external appearance. Frogs typically have big, bulging eyes and smooth, moist skin. Whereas toads have drier, warty skin. This reflects differences in habitat. Frogs spend more time in and around water, so they need to keep their skin wet at all times.

Toads tend to travel abroad and can be found in drier environments. Some can even live in deserts, like the Sonoran Desert toad. The western toad doesn’t like it quite that dry, preferring woodlands, forests, and meadows with plenty of freshwater bodies.

Another difference is that most frogs are made to leap. Their strong, lengthy back legs are perfect for gracefully leaping away from danger, preferably into the water. Toads have shorter back legs and prefer walking to hopping (though they do hop from time to time). They would rather wait out their predators, relying on camouflage to keep them hidden. For particularly persistent predators, toads do have one more difference from other frogs: all toads are poisonous! On the contrary, most frogs are not.

Those fatty glands behind a toad’s eyes are filled with toxins. They don’t usually kill the attacker, but they do leave a really bad taste in the mouth. The toxins are also not usually dangerous to humans, but be sure to wash your hands if you ever handle a toad. And no, despite what you’ve probably heard, toads can NOT give you warts. This is a myth.

One thing toads do have in common with other frogs is that they serve as a wonderful indicator for scientists as to the overall health of an ecosystem. These creatures are very sensitive to changes in their environment. If something goes wrong with the frog population, scientists know something is up!

Western toads are not an endangered species, and we have a chance to prevent them from becoming one. It is important to ensure that these creatures have plenty of clean water within which to lay their eggs and maintain a healthy population of insects and other invertebrates (these guys are one of nature’s pest controls!). We also need to keep their habitat clean of human waste and pollutants, such as pesticides. These can permeate the amphibian’s skin and cause it harm.

Let’s keep western toads hopping into the future.

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