T'is the season - everybody is making babies, and the toads are no exception

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The mating season of the American toad (Bufo americanus) is one of the more spectacular events spring brings us. The reason is that American toads are so-called explosive breeders. This means that they all congregate around the same time in the breeding ponds, look for a mate, mate, lay eggs, and depart within a few days from each other.

While toads are not an endangered species, one would not expect amphibians to be very abundant, if at all present, in a metropolis like Toronto. And yet, they are. High Park is doubtless the best place to see them in action. Not only see, by the way, but also hear.

The male toads make a low thrilling sound to attract females. In a good season, one can easily hear hundreds of toads at the same time. The sound can be nearly deafening. This year, probably because of the long, drawn-out winter, and the temperatures that are still below seasonal, it wasn't as spectacular as in other years. Nevertheless, the mating season remains worth observing.

It is quite entertaining to see a male calling, a female approaching and then deciding if she will or not mate with him. Also, the way the toads are blowing up their throats to a real balloon is quite interesting. If there is not much wind, a singing male can make the water ripple with his sound.

The toads deposit their eggs in two long strands along the bottom of the ponds or among the vegetation. They hatch after 3 to 12 days as tadpoles. The vast majority of tadpoles never makes it into adulthood. About 2 months later they transform into their adult form and they leave the pond in which they were hatched a few days later to disperse in nature.

American toads are supposed to live no longer than 2 or 3 years on average, but they can reach up to 10 years in the wild, and one case is known of a life span of 36 years in captivity when it was killed by mistake.

Because of the explosive nature of the toad's mating season, there is not much time to actually witness it. If you live in Toronto, now is the time to go to High Park and see it for yourself. Next week will probably be too late.

Vote it up! American toad - Bufo americanus During the mating season Bart B. Van Bockstaele (All Rights Reserved)