Woodhouse's Toad
Art by Jackie Blurton
Nature Note by the late Dr. Roland Shook
Toads, in general, have warty skins while frogs are smooth skinned amphibians. However, in some areas the term "frog" and "toad" can be used interchangeably. Although toads live mainly on land, they breed in the water and lay their eggs in strings.
This species has dry skin covered with numerous warts. The color of the back is usually olive or greenish, and there is usually a prominent light line down the middle.
Woodhouse's Toad ranges from the Atlantic coast to the state of Washington and south into Mexico. Like other toads, this species hibernates in the winter, burrowing in mud, soil or muck underwater. Hence, they cannot live so far north that the subsoil is permanently frozen. In New Mexico, Woodhouse's Toad is usually found at lower elevations where suitable conditions exist.
This species breeds from April to June with a single female laying up to approximately 10,500 eggs. When breeding conditions are favorable, on rainy, moist days during monsoon rains, young toads can be seen along the Gila River by the hundreds.
