Richie Rich Vs a Toad......

evenstar · Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 5548 Location: SCW by way of CA

Up early this morning intending to play golf, but cancelled; no back pain, but a little tight so will hit the practice tees later today.

Anyway, Rich is outside and I called him in only to be totally ignored; went out and there's something under one of my orange trees that has Rich fascinated and jumpy. Thought it might be a cottontail and didn't want Rich to kill it, so get a flashlight and discovered a good sized toad. Rich is sniffing at it, it jumps and so does Rich....backwards (My brave African hunter! Razz

) I watch this go on a few times, but figure Rich is eventually gonna overcome his nervousness and kill it, so pick Rich up, carry him into the house and lock the dog door. Now Rich is going crazy at the sliding glass door and there's the toad....it had followed us a good 30' and appeared to be attracted to the light coming from my kitchen. All I needed was little sucker coming in the dog door when I opened it, so went out, chased it down and put it in the yard of a neighbor who has no dogs. Will tell her later today and hope she doesn't mind; toad will be good for her yard. Good sized toad, filled my hand but didn't seem to mind the ride too much. Would liked to have kept it in my yard, but didn't want Rich killing it. I do have a pair of good sized alligator lizards living under the Rosemary bush in the front yard. I frequently see them out my front window when I'm at the computer. Pretty cool.
_________________
John Richardson and Richie Rich, El Perro de Playero
http://members.tripod.com/~evenstar/index.html
http://www.arizonahikers.com
When the Man waked up he said, "What is Wild Dog doing here?" And the Woman said, "His name is not Wild Dog anymore, but the First Friend, because he will be our friend for always and always and always. Take him with you when you go hunting."
--Rudyard Kipling, from Just So Stories, 1902

desertgirl · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 3350 Location: Chandler, AZ

Hooli ....you make me laugh with your write up.

Sliver n Skye also are so totally obsessed by toads...and they act quite like what you describe. Except they will expect me to watch the toad with them. Rolling Eyes

They both start chattering with me - watch the toad-bark at the toad-try to swat the toad- toad jumps- dogs jump back- dogs chatter at me n' repeat process. I have watched them nose around the toad (no toad damage or dog damage so far) for a few hours ...I am sure it cruelty from toad's perspective!
_________________
Photos: http://www.pbase.com/desertgirl/galleries
Life is but a dream ...there is no end to what you can dream!

BoyNhisDog · Posted: 7/7/2006, 9:01 am Post subject:

I don't know about the species of the toad you have but I do know that a tiny little Gila river toad will kill a dog in minutes if the dog gets it in its mouth. This happened to one of the breeding Cairns where Winston came from down near Vail, AZ. The woman was very upset as you could imagine.
_________________
Seize from every moment its unique novelty and do not prepare your joys
- Andre Gide

evenstar · Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 5548 Location: SCW by way of CA

paintninaz · Joined: 06 Jan 2003 Posts: 3515

Sonoran Desert Toads and Woodhouse Toads (both quite common around here) are poisonous as well...and those Sonoran toads can get pretty big!!

I'd keep dogs away from all toads around here just to play it safe.
_________________
~Tracy

“Friends make the bad times good — and the good times unforgettable.”

Davis2001R6 · Joined: 12 Dec 2003 Posts: 5591 Location: Italy

I would have never even thought about poisenous toads. Are there any poisenous desert birds? Emma seems to catch one in the backyard every month or so.

evenstar · Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 5548 Location: SCW by way of CA

desertgirl · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 3350 Location: Chandler, AZ

Daryl · Posted: 7/7/2006, 11:20 am Post subject:

Neighbor dog got a toad once and his head doubled in size from swelling. I'd be safe and keep all toads away from them.
_________________

GTG · Posted: 7/7/2006, 1:18 pm Post subject: toads and such

evenstar · Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 5548 Location: SCW by way of CA

CatValet · Posted: 7/7/2006, 5:36 pm Post subject:

Didja Kiss it? Sometimes they turn into a Princess ya know...

GTG · Posted: 7/7/2006, 5:47 pm Post subject:

heather · Joined: 05 May 2006 Posts: 266 Location: Mesa

I have never heard of a poisonous frog. Someone told me that every spider is poisonous to a point. Don't know if they were pulling my leg or not, haven't looked into it yet. Do you guys know?

evenstar · Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 5548 Location: SCW by way of CA