Bufo boreas

Also described as Anaxyrus boreas--for all you die-hard herp enthusiasts out there.

The layman (perhaps) knows this creature as the Western Toad. It is a common species that lives in many habitats throughout the western U.S. It is sometimes diurnal and sometimes nocturnal--though it's usually the latter directly after its short breeding season. It is distinguished by that pale line running down the length of its back and by its warty skin, which usually sports red-rusty bumps surrounded by dark splotches. This species is poisonous to some of its would-be predators, though not all. Some animals--ravens, for example--work around their vulnerability to its toxins by avoiding the skin and eating only the delicious insides.

We see a lot of these toads around the farm, primarily hopping about in the barren soil of freshly planted beds. They like hanging out under the covered beds especially, where there is protection from sun and wind and the environment is more humid. I was building a series of drip irrigation systems for the main tomato field with fellow volunteer Vanessa for much of the day today. We noticed this little guy sometime in the afternoon while checking for leaks in the newly installed drip lines. Once I had photographed it I encouraged it to a nearby blackberry hedge so that it wouldn't be underfoot. This species blends into the dirt so well, I'm always a bit nervous about stepping on somebody.


Yesterday is backblipped.