Subject: [Tweeters] Toad Report
Date: Nov 24 19:20:41 2008
From: jeff gibson - gibsondesign at msn.com


Thanks to Gary Bletch for his toad observation. I'm inspired to share my 'recent' toad observations, such as they are. That's in part because, as Gary posted, they are obviously much scarcer than they were here back in the 60's and 70's, and on.

In mid-July 2003 I came across a 'hatch' of mini toads near Panorama Pt. campground on Baker Lake (whatcom co.) - lots of freshly minted toads (3/8-1/2 ") hopping around streamside cobbles.

In mid-August 2004 there were many hatchlings of similar size at Lake Wenatchee -all about the lake, up the side valleys ( Little Wenatchee and White River) and up the trail at nearby Hidden Lake (also home to especially cool Ringed Emerald Dragonflies and Leathery Grape Ferns). Many, many little tiny toads , scattered all over, everywhere I went it seemed. I felt hope for toad kind.

In mid- August 2006 I saw a total of one toad at Lake Wenatchee - about 1 1/2" long. The season may have been off that year - the insect (especially dragonflies , butterflies and moths) populations were very different.

When I was a kid and total nature nut back in the 60's and seventies I also used to see toads on a regular basis. It was'nt unusual to see a toad on a daily woodland walk. I remember camping at a favorite family camp on 'Lake' Cle Elum back in the late 60's in May and seeing masses of mating toads (calling their interesting call) floating about a shallow bay, the smaller males atop the big females, the shallows full of the gelatinous strings of toad eggs. The same in a lake in the 'lake district' SE of Monroe, about the same time period. Also saw amazing 'hatches' of toads, in a number of places - the 'ground would be moving' with thousands of tiny toads massed on a lakeshore. Nothing like that in the last several decades.

Back when I was a kid I also had a whole 'bank' of aquariums and terrariums full of native creatures. One of my temporary 'pets' was a big Western Toad. With typical American 'cartoon' education we think of frogs 'zapping' a fly with their big long tongues. But your typical native frog in these parts has a short tongue - they lunge at their prey and mostly just gulp it down. The toad however has the real deal. The toad slowly approaches its prey then suddenly out zaps that tongue - nearly the toads body length, and gulp, that bug be gone. Eventually I gave up my hobby- I just did'nt like having those critters in a cage.

It would be nice to hear more toad tales from tweeters group.


Jeff Gibson , Everett Wa