In the spring season, frogs and toads lay their eggs which means we will be more likely to spot them in our gardens and out and about on the roads. But what is the difference between frogs and toads and what should we do if we see any on the roads?
Read on for some useful information from the National RSPCA.
Helping frogs and toads in Spring
Pond owners may find large amounts of frogspawn at this time of year and it can make the water look overcrowded but it’s nothing to worry about.
What’s the difference between frogs and toads?
Common frogs
Frogs have smooth, moist skin which is not slimy, and special glands to keep their skin moist and supple – this helps them to ‘breathe’ through their skin as well as their lungs so that they can stay underwater for a long time. Most are mottled shades of green, yellow or brown and have a distinct brown patch behind the eye.
Common toads
Common toads have dry warty skin which means they can’t ‘breathe’ through their skin as well as frogs, but they can survive on land in drier place. They are usually grey-brown and crawl rather than hop like frogs do.
Both frogs and toads eat a lot of beetles, bugs and woodlice and the frogs will eat a large number of slugs and snails, whereas toads favour ants.
Don’t be surprised if frogs or toads are found in greenhouses. They are attracted there by the warm, moist conditions and will live in a greenhouse quite happily, eating the insects and other small creatures that live there too.
Each spring, toads may be seen migrating in large groups and over distances of a kilometre or more to return to their pond to breed. At this time, toads are vulnerable when crossing roads, with many being squashed by cars. People can help by carefully carrying the toads across the road; many areas organise toad patrols. Other measures can be taken and details of these can be obtained from the Toads on Roads project.
