Double and triple Checked

Several times now, while driving at dusk on or near the service roads that run parallel with US I-40 East, I see 0 [as in zero] dead frogs or toads on the roadways. Even after a rain or when a cold front moves through.

We still find tree-toads and tree frogs. I took a living leopard frog from my barn cat and turned it loose in a fenced garden area.

But no Woodhouse Toads, which are normally prolific in these areas.

It is ironic, that in the housing areas on the local AFB there are woodhouse toads easily caught.

While fishing at 10 acre lake in Choctaw, no toads. We hear peepers and bullfrogs in the water and tree toads in the woods, but we see no toads.

Usually toads come out at dusk to catch bugs attracted to street lights. Often we used to see them on the roads and parking areas, because that is where the light is, and where the bugs are attracted. You would also see a lot of large wolf spiders and grass spiders also hunting, and bats.

Because toads are attracted to street lamps, it used to be they would be out in such numbers that one might find hundreds of toads hopping on the roads, or dead [road kill] run over by cars.

Last year was wet in these parts and numbers were still very low to zero. Though last year we did see more turtles crossing the roads. This year, very few and only in the early spring. Now? 0. That could be due to drought, though I wonder if the water quality has changed due to pollution associated with new developments or other man-made causes.

Posted on 16 de julho de 2011, 01:49 PM by greenmother