Frog Prince or Frog Princess
Last month, while walking through my butterfly garden, I accidentally stepped on a toad. I am not sure who was more scared - me or the toad. Thankfully, it was unharmed and found a safer place to sun. This toad wasn’t the charming frog prince from stories, but nonetheless I was excited to find one. The presence of a toad hinted at a small ecosystem thriving quietly in my garden.
Toads are often mistaken for frogs, but they have distinct differences—rougher skin, shorter legs, and a preference for drier habitats. The give away on this handsome fella / beautiful gal are the warts on the back. I have not been able to positively identify this garden interloper. Though it photographed very yellow, I think it is an American Toad.
Abandoned Baby Tadpoles
I was checking on some new plants in my butterfly garden after a particularly nasty spring thunderstorm. It was pretty muddy and there were a number of shallow puddles in the detention pong still draining. I remembered when we built our house, there was a clutch of frog eggs that hatched in our foundation. I decided to take a closer look at the detention pond and to my surprise, I found a school of active tadpoles. I can't help but wonder if the toad I encountered earlier, decided to use our detention pond as a tadpole nursery.
Sadly, the story doesn't have a happy ending. I had to leave for a business trip, and during that time, the weather turned hot with several days reaching 90°F. When I returned, the puddle where the tadpoles lived had dried up completely. Tadpoles cannot survive without water. And in retrospect, with a little more time and planning, there are some things I could have done differently to give the tadpoles a chance.
How to Support Amphibians in Your Garden
If you want to encourage toads, frogs, and their offspring in your garden, consider these practical tips:
Create or maintain a small pond or water feature that holds water long enough for tadpoles to develop. Our detention pond captures water, but it also drains, which can be perilious for tadpoles.
Check water levels regularly during hot weather and add water if needed to prevent drying out. It is important to note that you should not add chlorinated water. When possible it is best to add rainwater.
Avoid using pesticides or chemicals that can harm amphibians or their food sources. This is also important if you are trying to attract other wildlife to your garden like butterflies and birds.
Provide shelter such as logs, rocks, or dense plants where toads, frogs, and other amphibians can hide during the day.
Keep the garden natural and diverse with native plants that attract insects for amphibians to eat.
These steps can make your garden a safe haven for amphibians and other wildlife.
Given the challenges with maintaining water levels, some recommend removing the tadpoles and raising them in a bucket of water or relocating them to a larger pond or stream. If you chose the former option, they will need to be fed, at the tadpole stage, boiled lettuce may be sufficient before graduating to more omnivorous foods. If you chose the latter option, try ensure that the current is not too strong. It can sweep tadpoles away from their hiding spots and turn them into fish food.
Looking Forward to Next Year’s Tadpoles
Although the tadpoles I found did not survive the dry spell, I am optimistic that next spring, we will be able to host another clutch of eggs. And hopefully, with a little care, I can witness the transformation of tadpoles into toads or frogs.
Comments