Females release double strings of fertilised eggs, unlike frogs that release clumps, in pond areas. They usually release around 1,500 eggs but some females have been reported to produce 5,000! The jelly around the egg swells when it’s in the water, making the eggs more buoyant. Staying near the surface means the eggs will be warmer and there is more oxygen available.

After 10 days, black tadpoles emerge. You can distinguish toad tadpoles from those of frogs by their colour, as frog tadpoles are green. Tadpoles stick together in the water and their main aim is to each as much as possible to build up their energy for growth. They do this by seeking out soft plant material like fallen leaves and algae multiple times a day. They are omnivores at this stage, so they also eat bacteria, mosquito larvae and sometimes other eggs.

Once toads reach adulthood they move on from their spawning pond within a week, seeking a new refuge. They enjoy their summer in woodlands, tussocky grasslands, hedgerows or gardens. Their adult life is terrestrial based, spending little time near water until their breeding period.

As winter approaches, toads look for sheltered areas to overwinter rather than hibernate. They can often be found in gardens hiding under log piles, sheltering in upturned plant pots or nestled in an empty gutter. Toads try to conserve as much energy as possible in the colder periods, but they may leave their hiding spot at night in search of a tasty snack. Slugs, snails, spiders, beetles and ants are all on the menu.

In early spring, toads follow their strong migratory instinct to their ancestral spawning ponds for the breeding season. Often these migrations are en masse and, in some areas, thousands of toads will journey to water bodies to spawn. Deeper waters like village duck ponds and reservoirs are the ideal breeding spot, but these are becoming rarer for toads to find. They may have to battle across busy roads and railways to get to their ponds, so this is a particularly vulnerable part of a toad’s life and sadly, many are killed.

If a male is lucky to spot a female on the way, he will hitch a ride on her back. Otherwise, males tend to get there first and await the females’ arrival. When both parties are present, they find a mate and reproduce with the males clasping on to the females’ back. They swim around together until they locate the perfect spot for depositing the eggs, which are subsequently fertilised, and the cycle continues.

Create a toad-friendly garden