Toad Story

16 years ago

Awhile back I posted about having lots of toad eggs in my pond and, getting rid of most of them. I received a lot of rather mean responses about getting rid of them. And responses about how cute they were, how it was nature, how it was so nice to go to sleep listening to them, etc., etc., etc.

Well, I explained before my reasoning, but not many seemed to warm up to the fact that I didn't want to 'watch' my every move because of toads around. So, just about 30 minute ago, I was weedeating, and yes, you can tell where this is going.

I weedeated a teenager toad and it sliced its mouth to a point that some internal organs were dangling out of its mouth. I didn't know WHAT do to. It was trying to hop around with some organ dangling out of its mouth. It wasn't going to live, I could not stand to see it. I didn't have any of that super sleeply snake oil stuff I've heard you ponders talk about so I put some cool water in a baggie with ice, put the poor toad in there and put it in the freezer. All WHILE CRYING!

So now, it has ruined my 4th of July to have a bleeding toad in my freezer, probably still not dead, and I have to face it AGAIN, to put it in the trash on Tuesday.

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Comments (5)

mybusyfamily6
16 years ago
So sorry...
chickadeedeedee
16 years ago
Putting the toad in the freezer to die is also cruel. He still feels pain and as the cells freeze and expand they burst ...

Here is a link that might be useful: Euthanasia
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horton
16 years ago
Zelda, don't be down on yourself and learn from the situation. You did not go out there to intentionally maim or kill the toad, accidents happen and now you are feeling pretty bad about it all. I'm sure very few of us knew what we may run into, when we decided to take on ownership of a pond and the stewardship of the pond's inhabitants etc.

I have, in the past, accidentally killed Grass frogs with my lawnmower, but it wasn't on purpose. Like you, I did not see them and like you, I was devastated when I realized what I had done. It leaves a person feeling pretty bad for sure.
I'm also sure we are not the only ones to whom this unfortunate type of accident has happened. It is horrible when things go awry like that but we can only try to learn from our mistakes.
"Horton"
ccoombs1
16 years ago
That's so sad, but don't be too hard on yourself. Accidents happen. I have a filter on my pond that I have not been able to clean in way too long because it is full of developing frogs. I have to do it today. I am sad because I know I can't save them all, but it has to be done. I will probably spend the first hour trying to catch all of the froglets out of there and move them to safety first.
goodkarma_
16 years ago
Oh Gosh I am so sorry! I accidently stepped on a little guy and killed him. I was actually hopping to avoid him but he hopped right where my foot landed. I was so sad. In my suburban back yard I know toad deaths are inevitable. BUT- You have to remember that for every one you accidently kill there is probally two or three that you are not going to kill and will live happily in your yard.

One of the things I do is wait until the hottest part of the day to mow the lawn. I check the yard the best I can for toads and relocate the ones I see out of my mow path. I am not weedeating until the toads get bigger. I rarely see an adult toad (they are much better at hiding) except at breeding time. This is the best I can do and when something happens I feel like you do. :(

Lisa