Written by Anastasia Hinchcliffe, Coalface to Wildspace Yorkshire Trainee
Although we now turn from an unseasonably dry spring towards the summer months, plenty is still going on for our amphibians. This month, our focus is on the common toad.
With their mating season generally coming to a close in early spring, adult toads will now be back to spending less time in water, instead favouring dark and damp spots in which to shelter and feed. You may have been lucky enough to see their tadpoles, which differ from those of the common frog in that they are darker (generally black in colour), appear slightly smaller and tend to move around in shoals. Earlier still, you may have seen toad spawn, which appears to be in ribbons rather than clumps and is often wrapped around pond foliage.

Although their physical progression into adulthood is much the same, toadlets tend to leave the water slightly earlier than froglets and, although still tiny, may now be seen making their mass exodus across grassy banks and footpaths. Unfortunately, their small size makes them easy to step on, so take care to watch your step while out and about!
Preferred spots for toads for the rest of the year include collections of leaf litter, log piles and compost heaps. With toad numbers continually on the decline, making wildlife-friendly choices in gardens is especially important for them. While we have the sun, why not get out in the garden and create your own shady log or rock pile, or even a special Toad Abode? It’s also never too late in the season to dig that pond!
There’s tonnes of other ideas in our ‘Idea Zone’ so whilst the weather is good, get outside and make your green spaces more wildlife-friendly.