Population Study of Wild Metro-Detroit Toads by Kozmic Dreams

For five years, I tracked 124 toads at my previous residence, as seen on the Wild Toads of Detroit Page. While I am sad to never get the chance to see my little friends again, I am excited to make new friends at my new house. This time, rather than naming the toads just by number, I am trying to give them more personal names, as time permits. Not all toads were found here. Some were relocated from my previous residence, some from a rental property, and some from miscellaneous areas---I figured it would be interesting to see how many stayed around here. Currently, there are 106 toads being tracked.

There were 46 new toads for 2009. Nine are definitely adult males. Four others seem possible as well.

These toads are unbelievably small. Here is #38 shown on my fingertip (click on it for full-size image)...

Toad 35 "" less than 1/2 inch sex unknown found for the first time at previous Detroit site #1, relocated to this site frisky 6-21-09	Toad 36 "" less than 1/2 inch sex unknown found for the first time at previous Detroit site #1, relocated to this site frisky 6-21-09
Toad 37 "" less than 1/2 inch sex unknown found for the first time at previous Detroit site #1, relocated to this site frisky 6-21-09	Toad 38 "" less than 1/2 inch sex unknown found for the first time at previous Detroit site #1, relocated to this site frisky 6-21-09
Toad 41 "" less than 1/2 inch sex unknown found both times in the front flower bed frisky 6-22-09, 6-23-09	Toad 42 "" less than 1/2 inch sex unknown found in backyard calm 7-3-09
Toad 51 "" about 1/2 inch sex unknown 6-5-10	Toad 52 "" about 1/2 inch sex unknown 6-5-10
Toad 53 "" about 1/2 inch sex unknown 6-5-10	Toad 54 "" about 1/2 inch sex unknown 6-5-10
Toad 55 "" about 1/2 inch sex unknown 6-5-10	Toad 56 "" about 1/2 inch sex unknown 6-12-10
Toad 57 "" about 1/2 inch sex unknown 6-12-10	Toad 58 "" about 1/2 inch sex unknown 6-12-10
Toad 59 "" about 1/2 inch sex unknown 6-12-10, 6-19-10	Toad 60 "" about 1/2 inch sex unknown 6-12-10
Toad 61 "" about 1/2 inch sex unknown 6-12-10	Toad 62 "" about 1/2 inch sex unknown 6-12-10
Toad 63 "" about 1/2 inch sex unknown 6-12-10	Toad 64 "" about 1/2 inch sex unknown 6-19-10
Toad 65 "" about 1/2 inch sex unknown 6-19-10	Toad 66 "" about 1/2 inch sex unknown 6-19-10
Toad 67 "" about 1/2 inch sex unknown 6-19-10	Toad 68 "" about 1/2 inch sex unknown 6-19-10
Toad 69 "" about 1/2 inch sex unknown 6-19-10	Toad 70 "" about 1/2 inch sex unknown 6-21-10
Toad 71 "" about 1/2 inch sex unknown 6-21-10	Toad 72 "" about 1/2 inch sex unknown 6-21-10
Toad 73 "" about 1/2 inch sex unknown 6-21-10	Toad 75 "" about 3/4 inch sex unknown 6-24-10
Toad 76 "" about 3/4 inch sex unknown 6-24-10	Toad 77 "" about 1/2 inch sex unknown 6-24-10
Toad 78 "" about 1/2 inch sex unknown 6-30-10	Toad 79 "" about 3/4 inch sex unknown 6-30-10
Toad 80 "" about 1/2 inch sex unknown 6-30-10	Toad 81 "" about 1/2 inch sex unknown found in moss garden 7-2-10
Toad 82 "" about 1/2 inch sex unknown found in moss garden 7-2-10	Toad 83 "" about 7/8 inch sex unknown frisky 7-3-10
Toad 84 "" about 3/4 inch sex unknown 7-3-10	Toad 85 "" about 3/4 inch sex unknown 7-3-10
Toad 86 "" about 3/4 inch sex unknown 7-3-10	Toad 87 "" about 1/2 inch sex unknown 7-3-10
Toad 88 about 1/2 inch sex unknown 7-13-10	Toad 89 about 1/2 inch sex unknown 7-14-10
Toad 90 about 3/4 inch sex unknown 7-26-10	Toad 91 about 3/4 inch sex unknown 7-26-10
Toad 92 about 3/4 inch sex unknown 7-26-10	Toad 93 "One-Eyed Jack" about 3/4 inch sex unknown 7-26-10 I tried to keep this toad and rehabilitate him because he was very skinny (not eating well because he can't find food with one eye as well). Sadly he succumbed to some kind of skin disease on 11-10-10.

Toad 11 "Lefty" (named so because he has no toes on his right foreleg---looks like a birth defect) 1 7/16" sex undetermined found for first time at previous Detroit site #2, relocated to this site average friskiness, seems to get around ok without foot 5-31-09	Toad 27 "" 1 3/8" sex unknown found for the first time at previous Detroit site #2, relocated to this site mildly frisky 6-14-09, 6-19-09
Toad 28 "" 1 3/8" sex unknown found for the first time at previous Detroit site #2, relocated to this site calm 6-14-09	Toad 32 "" 1 3/8" sex unknown found for the first time at previous Detroit site #2, relocated to this site mildly frisky, crackling in lungs 6-21-09
Toad 46 "" 1 1/4" sex unknown found in rear strawberry patch by woods very frisky 8-31-09	Toad 47 "" (forgot to measure, but likely a little less than 1 1/2") sex unknown 4-30-10
Toad 49 "" 1" sex unknown has respiratory infection 5-5-10	Toad 74 "" about 1 inch sex unknown 6-24-10
Toad 94 about 1 1/8" sex unknown found by butterfly bushes frisky 8-6-10	Toad 95 about 1 1/4" sex unknown found by butterfly bushes frisky 8-6-10
Toad 97 about 1 3/8" sex unknown found on south side of house frisky, very spotted underbelly. 8-18-10	Toad 99 about 1 3/8" sex unknown found in front flower bed 8-23-10
Toad 101 about 1 1/4" sex unknown sweet toad, a little shy. 8-26-10	Toad 103 about 1 3/8" sex unknown frisky 8-28-10

Toad 5 "" 1 11/16" female found in backyard while mowing grass very frisky 5-25-09	Toad 9 "" 1 1/2" female found for first time at previous Detroit site #2, relocated to this site very frisky 5-31-09
Toad 10 "" 1 5/8" sex undetermined, but may be a male since it attempted to croak found for first time at previous Detroit site #2, relocated to this site calm, likes back rubs 5-31-09	Toad 12 "" 1 7/8" female found on sidewalk near neighbor's house takes short, quick jumps, frisky, but calmed down for backrub 6-11-09
Toad 13 "Right-hand Man" 1 9/16" male found for the first time at previous Detroit site #1 very timid, missing left hand and looks infected. 6-14-09	Toad 14 "" 1 5/8" sex unknown, but tries to croak found for the first time at previous Detroit site #1, relocated to this site likes backrubs, good long jump 6-14-09
Toad 15 "" 1 7/8" sex unknown, but tries to croak found for the first time at previous Detroit site #1, relocated to this site frisky, but will lay on back for a while if placed that way 6-14-09	Toad 16 "" 1 7/8" female found for the first time at previous Detroit site #1, relocated to this site fairly calm, lays on back and lets one rub her tummy 6-14-09
Toad 17 "" 1 7/8" female found for the first time at previous Detroit site #1, relocated to this site not really curved, just hard to take a picture---was extremely frisky however will lay on back when placed and allows a tummy rub 6-14-09	Toad 24 "X-Man" 1 7/8" male found for the first time at previous Detroit site #2, relocated to this site frisky, vocal chords are still developing 6-14-09, 6-17-09
Toad 25 "Owlsly" 1 1/2" female found for the first time at previous Detroit site #2, relocated to this site frisky, good long jump 6-14-09	Toad 26 "" 1 13/16" female found for the first time at previous Detroit site #2, relocated to this site calm on first capture, but frisky and fast on last capture. was 1 5/8" when caught, found in front flower bed on 6-23-09 6-14-09, 6-16-09, 6-23-09
Toad 29 "" 1 3/4" female found in the garage after rainy night mildly frisky 6-19-09	Toad 30 "" 1 3/4" female found in the garage after rainy night mildly frisky 6-19-09
Toad 33 "" 1 7/8" female found for the first time at previous Detroit site #1, relocated to this site frisky 6-21-09	Toad 44 "" 1 1/2" female found in front flower bed frisky 8-25-09
Toad 45 "" 1 1/2" female found in front flower bed frisky, super fast jumper 8-25-09	Toad 50 "" 2 3/8" (grew 3/4 inch in about a month) female 1 5/8" when first caught 5-27-10 found under patio table first time caught fast jumper, urinated 4 times, very frisky first time caught 7-1-10 found in moss garden. super sweet---total personality change. loved to be held, hardly jumped at all
Toad 98 1 1/2" female found in backyard the first time, but front flower bed the second time. 8-18-10, 8-23-10	Toad 104 1 7/8" female 8-31-10
Toad 105 1 7/8" male frisky, but likes to be held and rubbed. found by mulberry tree. 8-31-10	Toad 106 1 7/8" male found by mulberry tree. 8-31-10

Toad 1 "DJ Premier" 2 1/8" male first found near back wall in strawberries very calm and friendly, likes to be held, chirps a lot enjoyed a long water soak 4-17-09	Toad 4 "Tangerina" 2 3/8" female found for the first time at previous Detroit site #1, relocated to this site friendly and calm when held, but takes short, quick jumps when released 5-8-09
Toad 8 "" 2" most likely a male---tried to do the amplexus grip on my thumb found by woodpile, second time by boysenberries friendly, sits up when positioned 5-30-09, 6-16-09	Toad 19 "Jezebel" 2" female found for the first time at previous Detroit site #2, relocated to this site somewhat frisky 6-14-09
Toad 20 "Vladina" 2 3/16" female found for the first time at previous Detroit site #2, relocated to this site very calm, rough skin 6-14-09	Toad 21 "" 2 1/8" female found for the first time at previous Detroit site #2, relocated to this site very calm, likes back rubs 6-14-09
Toad 22 "" 2" female found for the first time at previous Detroit site #2, relocated to this site fairly calm 6-14-09	Toad 23 "Rustie" 2 1/8" female found for the first time at previous Detroit site #2, relocated to this site, found second time on north side of house found third time in city property trees calm, beautiful bright orange dots all over it 1 3/4" on 6-14-09, 6-22-09, 6-23-09
Toad 31 "Cherry" 2 1/4" female found trapped in egress window at a house for sale, relocated to this site very calm after rescue, very good long jump, excellent climber seemed to have something wrong with eyelid skin on right eye 6-20-09	Toad 40 "" 2 1/8" female found for the first time in front flower bed frisky 6-22-09
Toad 43 "" 2" male found for the first time in driveway good long jump, very friendly, likes to be pet, doesn't chirp much 8-8-09	Toad 48 "" 2 3/8" female found in bkyd by butterfly bushes very friendly, likes to be held orange spots on neck 4-30-10
Toad 50 "" 2 3/8" (grew 3/4 inch in about a month) female 1 5/8" when first caught 5-27-10 found under patio table first time caught fast jumper, urinated 4 times, very frisky first time caught 7-1-10 found in moss garden. super sweet---total personality change. loved to be held, hardly jumped at all	Toad 96 about 2" female frisky, found in front yard flower bed. 8-6-10
Toad 100 2" male frisky, found in front yard flower bed. 8-24-10, 9-1-10 in rain.	Toad 102 2" male frisky 8-26-10

Toad 2 "Scoliocinda" (named so because of curved spine line---I've never seen this occurrence before) 2 3/4" female first found in boysenberry ground litter very calm and friendly, likes to be held enjoyed a long water soak 4-18-09	Toad 3 "Finch" 2 1/2" male found for the first time at previous Detroit site #1, relocated to this site very frisky and chirpy excellent vertical climber and long-jumper 5-8-09
Toad 6 "Nueve" (named so because of the "9" on his upper back) 2 1/2" male first found in backyard while mowing grass, found near garage next time frisky 5-25-09, 6-19-09	Toad 7 "Lucky Seven" 2 3/4" male found for the first time at previous Detroit site #1, relocated to this site was very active the first time caught, but calm after that He is my lucky toad because he seems to have taken up residence near the flower bed by the side of the house and I know where to find him 5-30-09, every day from 6-4-09 to 6-9-09. On 6-11-09, there was a big thunderstorm. I didn't see him again until 6-18-09, but there he was in the usual spot.
Toad 18 "" 2 9/16" female found for the first time at previous Detroit site #1, relocated to this site friendly, seems a bit thin for its length 6-14-09, 6-15-09	Toad 34 "Everest" 2 1/4" male found for the first time at previous Detroit site #1, relocated to this site very chirpy, friendly, likes backrubs, climbed woodpile to the top after release 6-21-09
Toad 34 "" 2 1/4" male found in backyard flower bed very chirpy, very frisky, extremely fast jumper 6-21-09

Here is a video of the largest batch of toads ever to be found in one day. Brian caught 15 toads from two different houses while mowing the lawn.

These two toads are being kept with Don the Spadefoot. To my surprise, Right Hand Man had Triangle Toad in an amplexus grip today, something I've never seen any wild toads do in captivity. These photos were taken on August 28, 2009.