American toad Facts for Kids

The American toad has bumpy brown skin. It hops around gardens at night and eats bugs. In spring, it sings a long trill near ponds.

A toad's bumpy skin is not made of warts, and touching a toad will not give you warts. It catches insects, slugs and worms with a sticky tongue that flicks out fast. In spring, males trill from shallow water, and females lay long strings of eggs that hatch into tadpoles.

American toads hide by day under rocks and logs, or dig backward into soft soil, and come out at dusk. Glands behind the eyes make a bad-tasting liquid that keeps many animals from eating them, so it is best to just watch a toad and wash your hands if you touch one. A toad is a helpful garden guest because it eats so many slugs and insects. Toads need ponds to lay eggs, so a garden pond or a pile of logs gives them a home.