The tale of the evil toad

A few months ago a toad (or two) would show up on my patio at dusk to eat bugs.  The bugs were plentiful because of the outside automatic lights.  So I didn't complain too much until it became a nightly thing and really, I live in the forest so shouldn't complain at all until .... (cue scary music) one night on my rounds to make sure there was no toad on the patio before the boys went out for their last potty before bed,  I missed the evil one hiding behind a vase by the front door.  Max found it.  Tried to kiss it? And then began foaming at the mouth, shaking his head violently and pawing at his face.  Freaking out I called a friend and (thank you Sue Downs) she told me to wash his mouth out (Max not the toad) with a spray bottle of water.  I wrestled with Max for some time and he calmed down a bit but it was not only scary but a close call since I have determined the toad to be a poisonous Rocky Mountain toad.  How big is this toad you ask - its about the size of a large orange!  Not a cute little run of the mill toad, nope, its a toad on steroids! The toad could have killed Max.  Not good! Evil toad!

The evil toad 

The sad thing is even after the drama with the nasty tasting poison toad Max waits every  night by the door for the toads return.  Poor Max .....

The past few nights I have tried to scoop the toad up with a shovel in an effort to launch him down the canyon into the forest (so I didn't kill him because quite honestly I don't like the thought of toad goo).  The shovel attempt hasn't worked.  All that resulted is he hopped away through the fence and into the grass while ooozing poison goo on the patio.  I am not so dumb to chase this little bugger through the weeds/grass at night so the battle continues.

This morning was the last straw.  What I thought was fox poop on the patio was, in fact, toad turds!  (Yes I am from the city and did not connect the dots in the forest.)  Thats it, I'm done.  Not only does this evil toad try to hurt Max but then he's pooping on the patio.  Oh no, not going to put up with that.  I didn't complain about the snake on the patio the other night after a downpour but I'm complaining about the toad!  I know, you're dying to know how I know it's toad poop.  Well guess what, you can find absolutely anything and everything on you tube.  Yes, I did find a video of a toad pooping.  Gross but true.

So this story is to be continued as the battle with the toad is not over.  I will, of course, keep you posted.

Love and toad turds (I'm sorry, I couldn't resist)

Lanae