Posted: Tue Sep 13, 05 12:09 pm Post subject: Toads playing dead
I knew they did this but had never seen it so clearly in action. Two of our chickens were chasing each other down the garden last week - this generally means they have got something (A) they shouldn't have and (B) too big to scoff in one beakful.
Cue Benny Hill music as I join the chase. Finally get her to drop the poor critter, who is flat out on the ground with some whitish fluid on his head. I picked him up and looked at him, no movement, no "breathing" (it is breathing when their chest moves isn't it?).
I wondered if he might be playing dead so I sat him on the garden bench (out of reach of chickens...well, as long as you're there to fend them off) and crouched down to look at him - I even placed him careful with his legs tucked back in position underneath. I watched him for two or three minutes and there was no sign of life, so I crouched down to look at his face and chest.
POP! Little eyes actually push out from his head and look straight at me and he starts breathing again! I picked him up with my hand over the top and take him up the garden and by the time I get to a safe bit (pond nearby and plenty of undergrowth the evil chickens can't get in to) he's struggling around like nothing ever happened and as soon as I set him down he scuttled off.
The moral of this story is unless they're clearly crushed somewhere there's a good chance he'll come back to life.
I wondered if the white fluid was the "poison" from the skin, but I didn't think this was visible?
bagpuss
Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 10507 Location: cambridge
does suggest that toads will play dead to protect themselves and that the milky fluid is poisonous
otatop
Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 1425 Location: North London
Posted: Tue Sep 13, 05 2:17 pm Post subject:
Yes, I've seen toads do this when rescued from neighbour's cats. I always assumed that it was shock. Sadly the toads haven't been seen around for a couple of years now - could be something to do with the cat population having tripled in number.
I accidentally squashed one flat when I opened the door to the garden and thought I'd killed him. I was very upset, as he'd lived in our garden for years and survived lots of cat attacks (they scream when a cat paws them; it's really scary), only to be squashed by a door! I picked him up and started carrying him across the garden to the bin, when he woke up and shot a (very large!!) stream of green pee (well, I assume that's what it was) right down my front. Yuk!
Thanks Bagpuss, I wasn't sure what the liquid looks like. I love toads, they're a lot more attractive and fun to spend time with than the neighbours for a start. I think it's something in the way they choose to meander across the ground rather than leap madly.
Bernie66
Joined: 14 Jan 2005 Posts: 13967 Location: Eastoft
Posted: Tue Sep 13, 05 8:43 pm Post subject:
That scream is really eerie. Its sounds like real pain.................
big ones go floppy if scared . baby ones dont , they just try to escape .create toad hall and they will move in and help in your garden .ace critters ,almost as good as dogs (shh theys asleep )toads good .
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