Hosting Mr. Toad

Toads are the ultimate good neighbor. They eat bugs, live just about anywhere, never fight and don’t complain. A shady bit of land with shrubbery, plenty of insects and some cool, damp dirt to hide in, makes the perfect home for any self-respecting toad.

Here’s what to do:

Find a cool, shady hiding place outdoors. Spots under bushes are good choices. Using a medium size clay flower pot, bury it on it’s side halfway into the dirt. Place some dirt which is wet and crumbly inside the pot. Add dead leaves and a few twigs.

Voila!Mr. Toad will consider this his very own Taj Mahal. (You’ll know when a toad moves in by the way the dirt in front of the house becomes worn down. That’s where the toad sits and waits for dinner.)

Little Known Toad Factoids

• In one summer, a toad can consume about 10, 000 insects.
• A toad tongue is sticky and fastens in the front rather than the back. It snaps out like a yo-yo, sticks to a piece of food and flips it back into its mouth.
• Touching a toad won’t give you warts.
• When a toad thinks that its about to be eaten,  it blows up like balloon to look bigger and scarier.