The Cuyahoga River floodplains are breeding areas for several types of amphibians. Walkers and bike riders on the Canal Towpath can hear up to 10 different species calling throughout the spring and summer.
The long, musical trills of American Toads could be heard a few feet off the Towpath today. I decided to check it out. It’s an odd sensation to be in the middle of a chorus of dozens of calling amphibians. The short movie below will give you an idea of what it sounded like.
It takes some careful and concentrated scanning of the area to actually see the toads, but if you stay long enough and remain still, they will emerge from their hiding spots and resume their calls. This one happened to be right below my feet.
American Toads are considered to be “explosive breeders,” with large numbers arriving at a pool within a very short time. The entire breeding process is over in a week or two.
Toads don’t cause warts. The bumps on their skin contain poison glands. It’s the defense mechanism for a relatively slow-moving amphibian. Toads are harmless to humans (unless you try to eat one). Another defense is to inflate themselves with air. By “puffing up,” the toad appears bigger.
American Toads are extremely helpful to people, especially in gardens where they will eat huge numbers of pests, including insects and slugs. They can live up to 30 years.
