Asked on May 22, 2012
TOADS IN MY BACKYARD! WHAT TO DO?
by Pamela F
+55
OMGosh! So he cuts the grass in the backyard before it turned dark and I went to have a look and guess what?! TOADS...at least 4 BIG ONES! I was scared and screaming my head off! He grabs the salt and started throwing it on them...I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY WENT BUT THEY ARE SOMEWHERE IN THE BACKYARD!
57 answers
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What to do? Leave them alone and hope they stay now that you have mowed away their cover. Toads are a gardener's friend. They are great at eating insects, slugs, etc. As you noticed, they don't want to hang around with you, so they won't bother you. They are reclusive, and like to hide in reeds, tall grass, etc.
![3po3]()
3po3
on May 22, 2012
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You're lucky. They eat insects. I wish I still had some in my yard but haven't seen any for last 2 summers.
![Pam]()
Pam
on May 22, 2012
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What if anything did the salt do to them?
![Pamela F]()
Pamela F
on May 23, 2012
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I doubt it did anything other than possibly irritate their skin. Toads have a voracious appetite for garden pests. Be glad you have them.
![Douglas Hunt]()
Douglas Hunt
on May 23, 2012
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Ok, I'll just leave them alone. Hope they only come out at night. I've never seen them in the daytime.
![Pamela F]()
Pamela F
on May 23, 2012
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Good for you Pam, I have a resident toad that lives in my compost bin behind the garage. And hangs at my neighbors pond next door! We should charge rent. Lucky to have them!
![Rebecca D]()
Rebecca D
on May 23, 2012
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Most likely they will come out during the evening, esp around lighting to feast on bugs. You're lucky you have them, they're not slimy or bothersome and they'll leave you alone. Totally harmless creatures!
![Tracy R]()
Tracy R
on May 23, 2012
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I adore toads! Their poop is kind of yucky, but love the bug eaters!
![Asta H]()
Asta H
on May 23, 2012
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At least you found them AFTER cutting the grass. The thought of a toad + lawn mower = one bloody mess.
![KMS Woodworks]()
KMS Woodworks
on May 23, 2012
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With the right weather conditions they sing :>)
![Rebecca D]()
Rebecca D
on May 23, 2012
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@ Asta H ewww poop! I never thought about that, how does it looks? I want to make sure that we don't step in it. My children have a swing set back there.
![Pamela F]()
Pamela F
on May 23, 2012
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Nature has a way of handling things properly. Mess with Mother Nature and pay the price. Many ugly creatures are beneficial so before killing them you might want to find out more about them.
![Sherrie S]()
Sherrie S
on May 23, 2012
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Scary, but I was assured at a gardening seminar that "if you have toads, you have snakes because the snake is the toad's predator." I have several that visit my front porch each night. We are not good friends, but tolerate each other. Me with a broom! They are always back to visit the next night.
![Melissa K]()
Melissa K
on May 23, 2012
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Melissa K I, too, don't like snakes but you should be more fearful of bad people.
![Sherrie S]()
Sherrie S
on May 23, 2012
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@ Melissa K i heard that too! My neighbor had several snakes in her yard the year before last. I drop mothballs twice a year!
![Pamela F]()
Pamela F
on May 23, 2012
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The poop is small, black and tarry, the only place I see it is on the steps.
![Asta H]()
Asta H
on May 24, 2012
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To Sherrie, they too are snakes
![Melissa K]()
Melissa K
on May 25, 2012
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Is that what that is, toad poop? I have been chastising my cats. Snakes for the toads, cats for the snakes, dogs for the cats. I have an entire ecological system in my county yard!
![Melissa K]()
Melissa K
on May 25, 2012
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You call that singing Rebecca? After a rain, I feel like I live in the jungle with all the "singing" Altos, bassos, and some alto-bass
![Melissa K]()
Melissa K
on May 25, 2012
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@ Melissa K. - too funny:-D
![Pamela F]()
Pamela F
on Jun 01, 2012
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Now I find that these toads or frogs are making midnight homes in my flowerpots mon the front porch. I hate these things. All I do is yell at them when I find one coming home to roost at night. They do not listen very well either!
![Melissa K]()
Melissa K
on Jul 06, 2012
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Pamela & Melissa - one little thing you should know. Some good snakes eat poisonous snakes so be sure you know who is who. I have a lot of wildlife and I don't control it because mama nature can't be controlled.
![Sherrie S]()
Sherrie S
on Jul 06, 2012
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To date, I have never seen a snake in my yard though my 9 year old son claims that he did. I called the police and animal control out and neither were able to find one. My neighbor at the time was renting the duplex next to ours found a few baby snakes and their mama. She went "HAM" on them but claimed one got away! These are some of the snakes said to be here in Georgia: http://timberrattlesnake89.tripod.com/ganonvenomous.html. I pray to God that I never run into any! Hopefully, my new neighbors who purchased that duplex won't either. They took down their raggedy fencing and replaced them but, asked if they could share our fence that divides our property. There used to be a foot and a half space between them and in that area is where the previous neighbor saw and killed those snakes. Their backyard is looking awesome and now maintained (renters never really cut the grass). They lost a raggedy tree due to the storm last week and it was a blessing if you asked me, lol & smh! NO MORE SNAKES, PLEASE GOD! No, toads or frogs either, please!
![Pamela F]()
Pamela F
on Jul 07, 2012
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I'm With Steve G. I Live in the Desert So I Had to Hunt for My toads at the River...They Are Very Happy in My Back Yard.I Have a Very Small pond w/5 goldfish...And Toads..My Garden Is Bug Free and My Toads are Fat and Happy.They Both Have There own homes also...lol Old Clay Pots Make awesome Toad Homes. One Lives in The garden and the other in a Flower garden by the Pond.As Steve sz they will avoid you...Because I Have a small Pond and Spend ALOT of evening hrs. in my garden I Get to See Mine More Often then Most People.
![Trish M]()
Trish M
on Jul 21, 2012
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Trish, with temperatures like you have, how do you keep the water cool enough for your goldfish? I would be afraid they'd be "poached."
![Douglas Hunt]()
Douglas Hunt
on Jul 22, 2012
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Evaporative cooling?
![KMS Woodworks]()
KMS Woodworks
on Jul 22, 2012
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Doug...I Freeze 2 liter bottles of water in my deep freeze and float them in the pond till they melt and replace them as needed...The fish Don't seem to mind loosing a lil space for a cooler place...LOL
![Trish M]()
Trish M
on Jul 22, 2012
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Very nice Trish.
![Pamela F]()
Pamela F
on Jul 22, 2012
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Trish M, that is such a creative way to care for the goldfish. You are a sweet lady.
![Sherrie S]()
Sherrie S
on Jul 22, 2012
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I'm sure your goldfish are very appreciative!
![Douglas Hunt]()
Douglas Hunt
on Jul 23, 2012
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so how log does it take to melt 2 litres of ice...it would seem that would be a twice a day kind of event in 100 degree weather.
![KMS Woodworks]()
KMS Woodworks
on Jul 23, 2012
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KMS Woodworks, I Leave the Hose on a VERY SLOW Trickle During The Day And I Have Replaced The Original Filter Material on the Pump With a Heavy Duty Scrubber Pad( Much More effective at Trapping The Sand That Gets blown Into the Pond.)With The Water Constantly Moving and Being Refreshed it Doesn't get Super Hot...Once in a While I Have to Do Two Bottles...Takes about an hr or so to Melt the bottle...So I put it in a the hottest part and then they cool off with the shade and all is well...These Guy's are Pretty Durable...They Have Lived in that Pond For 2yrs+ All Yr Long...They Have Gone From Dime Size To Sandwich Sz in That Time... LOL..The Pond Slowly Drains into a Very Long Bed, Then Travels Past The Heat Pump and Into another Giant rose Bush..The Plants Love The Slow Trickle and Fish poop..Win,Win,...LOL
![Trish M]()
Trish M
on Jul 23, 2012
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Seems you've thought of everything:-D
![Pamela F]()
Pamela F
on Jul 23, 2012
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Pamela...It Took a Few Yrs of Trial And Error...LOL I'm Still Learning New Tricks...Like I Learned to Keep These guy's warm in The winter By Heating Rocks,Fire place,Oven (If I'm cooking)Or In A Small Metal Box in The Sun...Then Place a few every couple of hrs in a clay pot in the pond...After the Sun Goes Down...Till Bed Time...Bout 10:00 By The Time it Cools Off Again The Sun Iz Up...Only Had To do it a Few times Last yr But I kept the Rocks Handy... LOL...We Do get Snow in The Mts..They Are VERY Close Here In Mesquite..Came out one Cold Morning and Found The Pump Spraying Water On a Thin Layer of Ice...LOL Thankfully The Fish Were Fine...LOL The toads Pretty Much Go Dormant...So I Don't Worry About Them...
![Trish M]()
Trish M
on Jul 23, 2012
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Had the same thing in my garden right by my lanai. It was so big, a friend posted that I should put a "saddle on it and ride it!" LOL
![Judy H]()
Judy H
on Jul 23, 2012
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Trish...I have to admire you determination and commitment...well done
![KMS Woodworks]()
KMS Woodworks
on Jul 24, 2012
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It is considered lucky in many cultures to have toads in your garden. They are the "keeper" of good fortune. On a practical side, they eat slugs & lots of bugs that eat my flowers and vegetables. They will eat mosquitoes too! I create little domes and houses for them. They are all part of natures' balance. In my veggie garden I am making a shrine to them. Seems that they have overflowed their luck and balance energy into my gardening and personal life because we have so much luck, good fortune and abundance.
![Sondra SunflowerPower]()
Sondra SunflowerPower
on Jul 24, 2012
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Here Ya Go Pamela...This iz Theodor...LOL But his Friends Call Him Teddy!!! LOL
![Trish M]()
Trish M
on Aug 01, 2012
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Trish M, Teddy is too dark to see clearly. You must take another picture. I love my toads & frogs because they eat bad bugs. I never see the adult toads/frogs but I hear them singing & have a lot of tadpoles in my pond.
![Sherrie S]()
Sherrie S
on Aug 01, 2012
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Keep'n the fish Cool in the Desert Heat...Frozen 2 liters and Slowly running water do the trick..LOL
![Trish M]()
Trish M
on Aug 01, 2012
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Trish M, where did you find the Big Blue frog & what is it made of ?
![Sherrie S]()
Sherrie S
on Aug 01, 2012
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Sherri... My Crazy as Me Boyfriend Runs a Truck Stop/service Station and one of The Novelty Company's that Put's Stuff in there Brought it in one day.He Snagged that Bad Boy Before it got a chance to hit the shelf.LOL It's Made of Resin and a Wire Frame.Was Looking for something to put on the rock ..Cuz of it' s odd angle nothing would stay in the high wind we get.Till Him...He has Been Happily Perched There for 2yrs now...LOL
![Trish M]()
Trish M
on Aug 01, 2012
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I am petrified of frogs and toads!!! I see one and I am back in the house for good.
![Diane]()
Diane
on Mar 18, 2015
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Me too, lol!
![Pamela F]()
Pamela F
on Mar 26, 2015
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Just saying, why should you be scared and screaming! It's just a toad. They are much smaller than you and will not harm you. In fact, they eat the bugs in your yard/garden.
![Jackie Mantel]()
Jackie Mantel
on Apr 06, 2015
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It's the food chain that bothers me, frogs eat bugs, snakes eat frogs!
![Beatrice Tangeman]()
Beatrice Tangeman
on Apr 07, 2015
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Yes, the snakes would bother me, luckily, we just have the Gardner snakes that are beneficial.
![Jackie Mantel]()
Jackie Mantel
on Apr 12, 2015
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FROGS AND TOADS ARE NATURES HEALTH BAROMETERS.if you have a healthy and clean environment then you will have frogs etc. if the frogs disappear, then you have a chemical laden backyard. they also keep down mosquitoes. love them and welcome them. turn it into a craft project by building a toad house. for them to hide in during the day.
![Fiona Loper]()
Fiona Loper
on Sep 22, 2015
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I cringed at doing harm to the frogs. Please!! They can't harm you. I am happy to find frogs in my garden. They eat insects. When you see a frog, just leave him alone.
![Evelyn Adams]()
Evelyn Adams
on Sep 30, 2015
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Seriously. Toads? Screaming? They are harmless to you, just in case you didn't know that. They are however important to the enviroment. They eat those nasty bugs that can harm you. Leave them alone or they will turn vicious and eat you. Put salt on your food.NOT THE TOADS!!!!
![Patricia Harper]()
Patricia Harper
on Sep 30, 2015
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Thank goodness for the frogs, without them we would be in a lot of trouble. Screaming??? Frogs are an indicator species, they are first to be effected by our environmental changes, they tell us when something is wrong, such as pollution. They can't harm you and are very beneficial, save your screams for black widow spiders......
![Deb Fisher]()
Deb Fisher
on Jan 21, 2016
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How neat! I have turtles in my backyard and they have even laid eggs that hatched. I also have broken flower pots (maybe half of one) about the flower beds for the toads and frogs to hide under, they love it. Have fun, look at them, they won't hurt you. PS; unless you live in a rain forest and they are poison dart frogs?? LOL Oh yeah, where I live I occasionally have poisonous snakes, I stay away from them.
![Pamrwilson]()
Pamrwilson
on Jan 22, 2016
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Oh, and I've tried to get people to give me theirs, so I could import them :) I love them! I miss them so much from when I was a little girl. Our yard had many toads and the croaking is wonderful. Not to mention the bugs they take care of.
![Marti]()
Marti
on Mar 28, 2016
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Build them a pond and they will have a home base.
![Elnora Lowery]()
Elnora Lowery
on May 10, 2016
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How very cruel! They are doing your garden a favour, leave them alone.
![Wendy]()
Wendy
on May 12, 2016
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Toads eat insects!! They are very beneficial. Please don't harm them. Why would you be afraid of a toad?
![Teresa]()
Teresa
on May 12, 2016
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I'm not afraid of them but we can't enjoy our deck at night because of the noise they make.
![Wynette]()
Wynette
on May 13, 2016
3po3
on May 22, 2012
Pam
on May 22, 2012
Rebecca D
on May 23, 2012
Tracy R
on May 23, 2012
Asta H
on May 23, 2012
KMS Woodworks
on May 23, 2012
Melissa K
on May 23, 2012
Trish M
on Jul 21, 2012
Judy H
on Jul 23, 2012
Sondra SunflowerPower
on Jul 24, 2012
Diane
on Mar 18, 2015
Jackie Mantel
on Apr 06, 2015
Beatrice Tangeman
on Apr 07, 2015
Fiona Loper
on Sep 22, 2015
Evelyn Adams
on Sep 30, 2015
Patricia Harper
on Sep 30, 2015
Deb Fisher
on Jan 21, 2016
Pamrwilson
on Jan 22, 2016
Marti
on Mar 28, 2016
Elnora Lowery
on May 10, 2016
Wendy
on May 12, 2016
Teresa
on May 12, 2016
Wynette
on May 13, 2016
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