Toads are often seen hopping around gardens and wooded areas, which makes some people wonder – do toads make their homes underground like other burrowing creatures? To put it simply, most toad species do not live primarily below ground, but they do spend time sheltered under logs, rocks, and in burrows during certain seasons.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: While toads do not live exclusively underground, some species will burrow under debris or dig shallow burrows to find shelter, regulate body temperature, and hibernate during extreme weather conditions.
In this comprehensive guide, we will cover details on the underground habits of different toad species, reasons why toads burrow underground, how they create burrows, and how you can provide underground refuges for local toads.
Where Various Toad Species Are Most Often Found
Terrestrial/Woodland Toad Habitats Above Ground
Many toad species inhabit forests, woods, meadows, and other terrestrial habitats. The Eastern American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus) is often found in deciduous forests across much of eastern North America. They enjoy damp leaf litter and wooded areas near temporary pools of water for breeding.
Similarly, the Western Toad (Anaxyrus boreas) occupies forests across western North America and is well-adapted to drier conditions. These adaptable toads can be spotted hopping through leaf litter or hiding under logs and rocks above ground.
Various tropical toads inhabit rainforests and tropical forests around the world, like the Common Suriname Toad (Pipa pipa) found across Amazonia. Toads like moist soil and will burrow into the ground or hide under vegetation during dry periods. During rain, they emerge to feed and breed.
The abundance of food and moisture make tropical forests an ideal habitat for many toad species worldwide.
Semi-Aquatic/Pond-Dwelling Toads Near Water Sources
Many toads favor habitats with permanent or semi-permanent bodies of water, like ponds, lakes, marshes and slow-moving streams. For instance, Fowler’s Toads (Anaxyrus fowleri) are common across eastern North America in areas with ponds or flooded fields for breeding.
They dwell on land near water and have adaptations like moist skin that prevent dehydration. Access to water allows pond-dwelling toads like Fowler’s to rehydrate easily.
The Cane Toad (Rhinella marina), native to Central and South America but an invasive species in places like Australia and many Pacific islands, thrives in wetlands and areas with permanent water access.
However, some desert-dwelling toads have adapted to breed in temporary waters that form after heavy rainfall. Reliable water sources allow semi-aquatic toads to stay well-hydrated and breed successfully.
Desert Dwelling Toads Found in Arid Areas
Remarkably, some toad species inhabit harsh desert environments. The Great Plains Toad (Anaxyrus cognatus) can be found across arid grasslands and deserts of the western and central United States. They have adaptions like light coloring and buried dormancy in burrows to survive extreme heat and dryness.
After rains, they emerge to feed and breed explosively in temporary wetlands. Desert toads estivate underground when conditions are too dry.
The Natterjack Toad (Epidalea calamita), native to arid regions of Europe and Asia, is another desert dweller. They tolerate dryness by burrowing into sand or soil and emerging at night to feed on insects attracted to temporary pools after rain.
Their shovel-shaped spades on their hind feet allow them to dig burrows rapidly to avoid overheating and desiccation. Physical and behavioral adaptations allow some specialized toads to thrive in hot desert environments.
Reasons for Toads to Go Underground
Temperature and Humidity Regulation
Toads dig underground to find cooler, more humid environments when conditions above ground become too hot and dry. As amphibians, toads need moisture to keep their skin from drying out. Underground burrows and tunnels provide shelter from the scorching sun and parched air during the day.
At night, toads will return to the surface when temperatures drop to more tolerable levels.
Aestivation During Dry Periods
During seasons or weather cycles when the land dries up, toads will burrow and enter a dormant state called aestivation. This allows them to conserve energy and moisture until wetter conditions return. Toads have been observed remaining underground for up to two years in extreme droughts!
Their metabolism slows down dramatically, and they patiently wait for the rains to come again.
Hibernation to Escape Cold Weather
When winter comes and temperatures drop, toads will dig into the ground below the frost line or crawl deep into crevices to hibernate. Their heart rate and breathing slow down as their body enters a torpid state.
Hibernating underground allows toads to escape freezing conditions and survive the winter when insects and other food sources are scarce.
Hide From Predators and Threats
Toads head underground to avoid predators like birds, snakes, and small mammals that hunt them. Burrows and natural cavities provide safety from dangerous foes. Toads may also dig into mud at the bottom of ponds to hide from threats.
Their camouflaged skin makes them difficult to spot by underwater predators. Burying themselves is an effective way to go undetected.
Rehydrate Skin to Prevent Desiccation
Because toads have highly permeable skin, they are prone to desiccation, or drying out, when exposed to sun and wind for too long. To rehydrate their skin, toads will burrow into moist soil or mud, which allows them to absorb water through their underside.
The cool, humid environment underground helps replenish their moisture levels so they can return to the surface without risk of dehydration.
Toad Burrows and Use of Underground Refuges
Digging Techniques and Typical Burrow Structure
Toads use their strong hind legs and webbed feet to dig burrows, sometimes assisted by a bony protrusion on their feet called a spade (perfectly adapted for burrowing!). The burrows can extend 1-2 feet underground, with enlarged chambers for resting.
Tunnel entrances are often concealed under rocks, logs, or vegetation. Larger toads may occupy deep burrows originally dug by rodents or other animals.
Communal Burrowing Behavior
While toads tend to shelter alone, some species exhibit remarkable communal burrowing behavior. For example, Wyoming toads in harsh environments share winter burrows in large numbers, crowding together dozens at a time!
Researchers believe huddling together preserves moisture and regulates temperature.
Utilizing Rodent Burrows and Other Found Shelters
Toads opportunistically use the old burrows of mice, voles, and ground squirrels for shelter. They may also inhabit spaces under rocks, rotting logs, boards, holes in the ground, and abandoned mammal burrows.
A 2021 study found the invasive cane toad in Australia even taking shelter in termite mounds!
Creating Toad Habitats with Underground Refuges
Log and Rock Piles
Constructing small log and rock piles makes excellent underground hiding spots for toads in your backyard. Carefully stack logs, branches, and rocks to form little nooks and crannies that toads can crawl into and take shelter (www.wildlifetrusts.org).
Make sure there are openings large enough for toads to enter. Position your log and rock piles in shaded, damp areas of your yard near vegetation. Providing these moist, underground spaces will attract thirsty toads during hot, dry weather.
Dry Stone Walls With Crevices
Building a dry stone wall with gaps between the rocks creates cool, humid spaces for toads. Stack stones loosely rather than mortaring them together, leaving plenty of little nooks and cracks for toads to climb into.
Place small stones and pebbles along the base of the wall to allow drainage and prevent flooding. Partially burying sections of the wall can provide underground burrows. Situate your dry stone wall along a garden bed, near a drainage ditch, or along the edges of your property where toads may dwell.
Directly Digging Small Burrows
If you don’t have patience for stacking logs or stones, simply grab a spade and dig some small burrows for your backyard toad friends! Choose a shaded spot underneath a garden shelf or large plant, then dig a hole roughly the size of your hand, at an angle or with curves.
This creates an underground chamber for toads to rest and hibernate protected from predators and harsh weather (www.almanac.com). Place a flat rock or wood plank at the burrow entrance to prevent tunnel collapse. Maintain proper drainage by avoiding thick or dense soil.
Rodent Burrow Boxes
For a quick and easy underground toad refuge project, make a burrow box home! Take an old wooden box or plastic storage container and cut an entrance hole on one side. Bury most of the box into the dirt, leaving the entrance exposed. Place it on its side and pack soil around it firmly.
Add some pebbles or small sticks inside. The contained underground chamber provides security, insulation, and humidity for toads. For extra moistness, include damp sphagnum moss inside. Position burrow boxes close to shade-giving plants or structures.
Planting Dense Shrubs or Brambles
- Here are some great shrubs or brambles to plant to encourage toads to burrow underground nearby:
- Butterfly bushes
- Wild roses
- Blackberry brambles
- Boxwood shrubs
- Forsythia bushes
These thickly growing plants offer shelter and moisture right at ground level, where toads will appreciate the inviting environment to dig a burrow nearby. Plant groupings of them along fences, property edges, or drainage ditches ideal for toad tunnels.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while toads depend on above-ground habitats for hunting prey and breeding, many species do spend significant amounts of time under logs, rocks, shrubs, and in burrows they dig or appropriate from other animals.
Understanding when and why different toads go underground can help you provide the shelter options they rely on to survive extremes of temperature and moisture level. By incorporating underground refuge spaces in your garden and landscape, you can give local toads the secure dwellings they evolved to temporarily occupy and encourage these beneficial amphibians to thrive.
