Toad In Garden.

[kendra20]

I went to clean out a drain in garden today and found a huge toad hiding there I had to get him out before hot water from washing machine landed on him. I put him in flowerbed near some water features. Will he stay in my garden I have an 8ft wall round garden I don't know how he got in can they climb walls ? I would love him to stay but read that they return to their own breeding grounds to spawn, but their are no lakes or ponds near me. any ideas ??

[237SJ]

He probably lives in the 8ft wall (if it`s a dry stone one).

[boxtops]

Yes, agree, he lives in the wall and lives off your slugs and snails. I'd leave him be - he may well go back to the drain in due course.

[dizmouk2009]

You might have a wall all the way around your premises but there is always a way for creatures to get in and out. If it is a dry stone wall like 237SJ mentioned then the toad could be living in there although since I am a qualified dry stone waller I doubt that it is made out of stone since we don't usually build them that high. I could be wrong but 8 feet is a lot for a dry stone wall.

[kendra20]

it is a dry stone wall so that's ok, I have blocked the drain though he can't get back in because hot water goes down there, I don't want him to get burnt I would love him to stay I got loads of slugs lol

[boxtops]

make sure there is shelter for him, then - they love to live in walls

[kendra20]

there is loads of shelter in my garden so he'll be happy, the wall is nearly 200 yrs old and made of stone with loads of nooks and crannies. if I put slug pellets down in my dahlias will they harm him if he eats the slugs or should I not put them down

[boxtops]

Potentially yes - the slugs are poisoned, he'll be better off eating live slugs!

[SlackAlice]

Yes, no more slug pellets. Your Toad will re-house elsewhere in the garden. I've got a couple of toads in my garden, one behind the shed under some old crocks and another near my pond.

Try this for slugs, it will not affect the toads if they eat them.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=nematodes+slugs&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=28637257620&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=362666847771388198&hvpone=&hvptwo=&;hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_cy3v8sqhh_b

Also available in most garden/nursery shops.

[kendra20]

thank you for all your answers I have tried all sorts of slug killers animal and bird friendly but none touched the little critters except the blue pellets which I didn't really want to use but my dahlias came first. I think toady has seen most of them off now. well I hope he stays around. thanks again everyone

[Brinjal]

Love toads we have heaps in our garden and our neighbours have 23 acres and a full orchestra of toads nd fogs tat serenade at night. Nlove them

[pusskin]

Lucky Brinjal. I love frogs and toads. We had one toad in our garden for yonks, then disappered. We have around 8 resident frogs so we are lucky.

[whiskeryron]

not strictly toad but you have reminded me of this

http://youtu.be/iD6YLl5I4RQ

WR.

[Chipchopper]

I don't think he/she was hiding in the drain outlet, I think its more likely that the drain acted like a pit-fall trap and he probably decided to stay a while. I'm glad you saved him from the hot shower though!
To stop a recurrence, of this I would suggest fitting some wire mesh or a plastic cover over the drain.
I remember finding toads 6-8 inches under the soil a couple of times and also under a heavy flag stone, so he may have been around all the time, found them in stopcock holes too at times.

[nungate]

I often find frogs in my garden, which is fenced on three sides the house being the fourth. None of my neighbours have ponds either no idea how they or the hedgehogs get in

[kendra20]

Update, went check drain this morning and toady was back hiding there I had covered it up but he managed to get in again. Removed him again. You might think i'm being silly but I have made a little shelter for him out of a plant pot and put a dish of water and some food by it ( fish pellets) is there a chance he might move house. And the drain has a new wire mesh cover. the only reason I want to move him is that boiling water goes down that drain and I cant bear the thought of him being scalded.

[Provasek]

Why not wash in cold water and save 66% in energy and not cook your toad? http://www.which.co.uk/reviews/washing-machines/article/washing-machine-temperature-guide