Western Toad
Anaxyrus boreas
Unlike most other toads, the Western Toad lacks a vocal sac; its call sounds like a soft, peeping chick rather than a loud croak.
- Scientific name
- Anaxyrus boreas
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Amphibia › Anura › Bufonidae › Anaxyrus
- IUCN Red List status
- Near Threatened
- Population trend
- decreasing
- Biome
- wetland
- Habitat
- Wetlands, marshes, wet meadows, streamsides, and damp coniferous forests.
- Diet
- Insects, spiders, worms, slugs, and other small invertebrates.
- Range
- Western North America, Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado
- Size
- 5 to 13 cm (2 to 5 inches) in length
- Lifespan
- 9-11 years in the wild
- Active
- crepuscular
- Threats
- Chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis), habitat loss, road mortality, and water pollution.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to humans but defensive. They secrete a mild bufotoxin from parotoid glands behind their eyes that can irritate human eyes/mucus membranes and is highly toxic to pets if ingested. Observe from a safe distance of 3 feet. Avoid handling; if touched, wash hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately. Keep dogs on a leash.
The western toad ( Anaxyrus boreas , formerly Bufo boreas ) is a large toad species, between 5.6 and 13 cm (2.2 and 5.1 in) long, native to western North America. A. boreas is frequently encountered during the wet season on roads, or near water at other times. When handled adults often vocalize, making a sound like a peeping chick while struggling. It eats any type of insect it can catch. It can jump a considerable distance for a toad. Breeding...
Photo: J Brew, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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