Helping toads cross the roads
Male toads will climb onto a bigger, female toad’s back to fertilize the eggs, making it harder for her to cross the road safely. The Glebe Toad Patrol has helped 50 toads and counting cross the road on their way to Brown’s Inlet. PHOTOS: EMMA CANTLON
Helping toads cross the roads
By Emma Cantlon
Growing up near many ponds, I always looked forward to spring, when animals would return and bring life back to the once-frozen water. It’s impossible to choose a favourite, but toads have always fascinated me with their adaptability.
Toads hibernate in the winter, digging deep under the frost line to survive, sometimes as deep as 50 centimetres underground. Come spring, the warming soil is their cue to dig back up to the surface and face their next challenge: returning to their mating grounds. The toads must travel from their burrows to warm, shallow ponds, streams and even ditches to breed. In the Glebe, dozens of toads can be seen each night in May, travelling to and from Brown’s Inlet Park in search of a mate. After mating, female toads can lay thousands of eggs in the water – they hatch in less than a week!
While their migration is an impressive sight, the toads must cross many roads to get to and from their mating grounds. Living near Brown’s Inlet Park, I have seen many toads run over by cars, especially toads that have latched onto each other. Male toads will climb onto a bigger female toad’s back to fertilize the eggs once she lays them in the water. Imagine how much harder it is to get around with a man on your back! Such small and gentle creatures are no match against traffic.
To give these toads a fighting chance, I assembled a group of dedicated volunteers to help the toads cross the roads around the park. We experienced our first warm nights over the long weekend, and the Glebe Toad Patrol has so far helped almost 50 toads safely across to the park. As the weather continues to get warmer, we hope to help many more!
Volunteers wear latex-free disposable gloves when handling toads to help protect both the toad and the person from harmful chemicals and bacteria. Just as our sunscreen and lotion can irritate the toad’s sensitive, absorbent skin, the toad can release small amounts of toxins when stressed, which can irritate our skin as well. Gloves are a very important layer of protection to keep both sides safe and comfortable! We also wet the gloves in pond water to prevent them from absorbing moisture from the toad’s skin. A toad’s wet exterior is an important immune defence for them.
The last thing we want to do is interfere with nature or bother the toads, so volunteers are encouraged to handle them as little as possible when removing them from the roads. Whichever direction the toads are going, we gently cup them between both hands and place them gently on the other side of the street so they can continue their journey – like a toad taxi!
The biggest challenge is often spotting them. Since toads are most active after sundown, a common question is, “Is that a toad or a leaf?” It’s no wonder these little creatures succumb to passing cars. I quickly learned that flashlights are necessary not only to find toads on the roads but also when walking anywhere near the pond. The last thing we want when patrolling is to accidentally step on a toad, so I’ve provided a few flashlights and encourage people to bring their own to avoid this. Low visibility can be dangerous, and I provide high-visibility vests to anyone who wants one – safety comes first!
If you’re interested in helping toads this spring or in the future, I highly encourage you to start a patrol group of your own or join ours! The positive response I’ve gotten from my community has been an amazing experience, and the Glebe Toad Patrol is always welcoming new volunteers. Follow our Facebook account @GlebeToadPatrol to sign up and stay up to date on shifts. With over 20 members and counting, the more the merrier!
Emma Cantlon is a Carleton University graduate in political science and environmental humanities. She has a passion for nature and the environment, and she enjoys birdwatching, exploring the natural world and finding ways to make a meaningful difference in her community. Contact Emma for more information at emccantlon@gmail.com.