John and I did some yardwork yesterday (mowing, weeding, clipping back the creeping vines, etc.) – it’s a good thing we did it yesterday morning, too, since the rest of the weekend was rainy – and we noticed a wee visitor in the yard. Say hello to Mr. Toad.
At least, we think he’s a toad. Pretty sure he’s a toad. John nearly hit him with the lawn mower, and even then the little dude didn’t move. He was hanging out under a tree. He eventually hopped over to the mulch near the fence. Riley barely noticed he was there. Can’t blame him for that, really. In the mulch and the dead leaves, Mr. Toad was nearly invisible.
When we finally finished up and went inside, he was snuggled up underneath the leaves right there by the fencepost, showing no signs of heading out. I’m not sure where he would have gone. Don’t toads need moisture, like near a pond or a swamp? I wouldn’t have thought our backyard was his ideal habitat. I know Google and Wikipedia could help me out here, but toads creep me out a little and I don’t really want to know that toads are happiest when they’re living under my bed or something. I only like them when they go on wild rides and sing. Speaking of Disney, did you know Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride in Fantasyland was replaced by a Winnie the Pooh ride? Looks like it still exists in Disneyland, but not Disney World. Sad.
momma betty
Without cheating and googling it, I seem to remember that one of the differences between toads and frogs is habitat. Frogs need the pond; toads don’t?