This is the toad commonly seen at night catching insects beneath lights. Occasionally it is active during the day, but more frequently remains in its burrow or hides in vegetation. After rains these toads breed in shallow water that may last for only a few weeks. Their eggs, laid in long strings, hatch into jet black tadpoles that feed in warm shallow water and develop very quickly.
Ten Facts about Woodhouse's Toad
- Woodhouse's Toads prefer lowland sandy areas, such as marshes, river bottoms, mountain canyons, desert streams, and suburban backyards.
- In the wild, they eat insects and spiders.
- Woodhouse's Toads breed in March-July.
- Males chorus to attract females. Their call sounds like a hoarse scream, or like a sheep bleating.
- Females lay up to 25,000 eggs in strings.
- Tadpoles develop into adults in 2-3 weeks.
- The young toads are mature by 3 years of age.
- They have lived up to 13 years.
- During the day, they usually hide out in small mammal burrows. They emerge to hunt at night, usually around lights where insects have gathered.
- Hognose snakes specialize in eating toads, but few other predators can withstand the toxins that they produce. Tadpoles may be eaten by fish, frogs, or predatory insects.
