Life Toad

The text came to me from our friend Barb, via Patty. It was this recording from the night before.

It sounded like people in agony.

And we knew we had to go. So we waited. Then we got the text, "they're calling now!".

Off we went.

To stand in a giant puddle (aka "vernal pool", that sounds so much fancier, doesn't it?) in a vacant lot through an opening in the fence across from Barb's place. And to try to take pictures.

Image courtesy Patty Rehn

It took awhile. But eventually, success!

And I got pictures of a creature I had never seen before.

The Eastern Spadefoot Toad. Very Cool! Thanks Barb!

Seen below doing what they had gathered to do. Make more toads.

Spadefoots only come out to mate after heavy warm rains. And there were very heavy rains the night before (so heavy we needed to get a new sump pump!). Vernal pools are also known as "ephemeral ponds" (even fancier). And since they don't last long, the toads really do need to get busy.

The eggs can hatch as quickly as in one day when it is hot but may take as long as two weeks when cooler. Tadpoles can metamorphose in as little as two weeks or as many as eight. This too is temperature dependent.

We've not yet been back to check.

🐸    🎂🍷🎂🍷🎂    🐸

This is Barb. On her birthday.

We invited her over to celebrate. Not only did she come over, but she brought a bottle of wine! Not sure she quite understood the birthday thing ...