Oops! Disturbing toads at home

These four toads were under an overturned plastic table holding bits of concrete.

Toads1 Toads! Toads!

I uncovered some toad hideouts while cleaning a space behind the garage where the previous homeowner built a lean-to for firewood.

For us, the tin-roof shelter has become a catch-all for yard junk. However it seems the mess has become a hangout for the croakers we hearing calling at night.

The area is toad-ally hopping.

There were three toads sharing that slot. A tiny frog hopped out of the other slot before I could snap a pic.

I'm  not sure what I did to disturb this one.

This one took a look at me when I pulled weeds too close to home.

As a peace offering, I buried pieces of a broken pot to replace the concrete blocks.

Uncovering creatures in the compost pile

Found this fat grub at the bottom of the compost pile.

When I decided to move the compost pile to the back of the yard, I didn't expect to disturb so many critters.

In addition to earthworms and smaller grubs, I found a couple of giant grubs and some reptiles when I invaded their winter home.

These big grubs are larvae for Rhinoceros beetles.

I relocated the sluggish Gulf Coast toad under a rock ledge and put compost on top if it. I expect to hear its croaks in a couple of months.

The rough earth snake slithered under some leaves after I uncovered it.

The Skink was so fast I couldn't get a good pic.

Bottom of the pile. Yes, that is a headless giraffe that was stuffed behind the compost bin.

Patrol dog sniffs out toad and lizard

Freddie looking for trouble.

The temp on this Oct. 2 morning was a delicious 68 degrees and Freddie the dog was looking for something to chase.

Then in one spot she found a lizard and a toad. What luck!

However there was no chasing because the reptiles just ignored the dog. So the dog just stared at them.

Generally Freddie's dog brain thinks one of her humans should inspect intruders she finds. 

So I got up, documented the suspicious characters and told Freddie she was a good dog.

Then when I reached down to pet her, I realized the hair around her neck was stiff and smelly because she had been rolling in something nasty. Ick! Bath time.

Watchful anole isn't in a hurry to jump to the next plant.

This Gulf Coast toad was not impressed by a sniffing dog.

Bullfrog make a surprise guest appearance

Today's chore of removing grasses from the pots of Lizard's Tail plants got a jolt of excitement when a Bullfrog jumped out of a pot on the work table at Sheldon Lake.

Was I the one who yelped when the frog made its escape leap?

No. But it wasn't in the pot I was working on. 

Pretty eyes.

One more pic before returning it to the grow-out pond.

The pots on the left have been cleaned. Only half a jillion more left for the Welands Team to complete. On this blustery day with temps in the upper 50s, we worked only on the Lizard's Tail.

In other amphibian encounters: On Monday I uncovered a hole and Gulf Coast toad hopped out. I guess it thought I was knocking.

Toad orgy

Pardon me while I snap a photo.

There is a toad orgy in my backyard after dark during spring.

Sometimes the croaking begins after dusk, but it usually cranks up around midnight. The love-making racket continues most of the night.

The breeders are Gulf Coast toads (Bufo nebulifer) that leave behind strings of eggs. The toads I have seen have bodies about 3 inches long.

I rarely see a toad during the day so it is amazing to find up to 10 couples humping in the water around 2 a.m.

Good luck, baby toad.

The cacophony annoys my sleeping partner. I pretend not to notice because the noisemakers are congregating in the pond I wanted so badly, but they are damn loud.

The pond is turning into tadpole soup. I am happy. -- Lana b

                                          Some find this sound annoying at 2 a.m.