The Garden Bug: Toads

By Brenda Weaver

The American toad can eat up to 100 insects in one night, reducing insect damage to your plants. To attract toads to your garden, provide water in which to breed (like a small pond or a ditch), plus a moist, dark place where they can wedge their body, and soil in which to burrow that is free of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. If they find a home they like, they might stay for years; observe their unique spot patterns on their back to identify them. When threatened, they can secrete a toxin from lumpy glands behind their eyes, so keep children and pets away and wash your hands after any contact.

Sources: www.washingtonpost.com, wikipedia