It's been a while since I've posted any toad sightings. I love to lift up the rock at the side of the house, that covers some pipes, just to see what I might find. I've seen toads in all sizes and quantities - tiny, large, singles, doubles, and once even triples (didn't catch that one on film). Then it will go empty for a while.

The first three pics were taken on 10/4 and then suddenly they were gone for a while. Then, yesterday morning they were back. Take a close look at the fourth pic. See that eye peeking out of the dirt? Later that day, I startled them and they went for the wall. Just a bit ago, I lifted the rock and they were just hanging out. Tried to fool me by taking off in separate directions.

At night they take off galavanting. Sometimes they will show up at the front door and other times we have to watch out when we open the garage door. Can't have them hangin' out in there! Besides the heat, they could get squished!! By morning, they usually manage to find their way back to the rock for their day time rest. Apparently, sometimes they go on vacation for a week or so.

I am still puzzling about where they come from and where they go, but love looking under the rock and finding them. Kinda like hidden treasure! In a nature kind of way.

(To check the previous postings, click on Toads at the right under categories.)

I have found that this rock (it’s a fake to cover some pipes) at the side of the house seems to be a safe haven (for a bit anyway) for some of the toads in the area. You may remember the big one that I posted a few months back. Well, I have taken to checking under it periodically and occasionally I find a new inhabitant. A month ago it was the toad that you see sitting in the palm of my hand and this morning, look at the teeny tiny toad that was there!

I always wonder where they come from?? They start as tadpoles, but where? It is too blasted hot for any pools of water to stick around too long and how do they always seem to find my rock? Where do they disappear too when I can’t find them any longer? (Although I did spot some roadkill a couple of streets over that looked vaguely familiar – was it my toad?) Sad day!! (to quote Chelcie)

We’ll see how long this little guy sticks around.

A while back, I shared with you a visitor that we get periodically at our front door. Well, I have always wondered where he went during the day. Over the weekend, I noticed a movement in my pansies. I pulled them aside, and there was my toad burrowed into the dirt! So the past couple of days I have been checking the spot. He would be there during the day and then at night he would be out cattin' about.

Last night when I got home, he was sitting in front of the garage door. I had to stop the car and Mark came out to shoo him away so that I wouldn't smash him down. I guess we kinda freaked him out, because this morning he is no longer in his hole. Where O where could he have gone??

Just think - if something as small as finding a hidden spot in some pansies can upset one little toad's hiding spot, what happens when we rip down an entire forest! Nature is so fragile.