What do houston toads eat

With the assistance and involvement of a dedicated community, perhaps these little amphibians will be able to make the leap from brink of disaster to the threshold of recovery. Recently, wildfires have raged throughout Bastrop State Park—considered the last remaining stronghold for the Houston toad. Read the full article here. Thank you! Main navigation Wildlife. American Crocodile and Alligator. Beluga Whale. Bighorn Sheep. Black-Footed Ferret. California Condor. Florida Manatee.

Florida Panther. Canada Lynx. Freshwater Fishes. Freshwater Mussels. Golden-Cheeked Warbler. Grizzly Bear. Horseshoe Crab. Lesser Prairie Chicken.

Marbled Murrelet. Mexican Gray Wolf. Mice and Rats. North Atlantic Right Whale. Pacific Salmon. Pacific Walrus. Pallid Sturgeon. Peregrine Falcon. Prairie Dog. The invasion of the red imported fire ant also has an impact on the long-term survival of the Houston toad.

These toads occur in small, scattered populations, and may be more seriously affected by fire ants than species that are more common and widespread.

Fire ants kill young toadlets less than days old moving out of the breeding pond into the surrounding land habitat. Research shows that fire ants also may reduce insect diversity and abundance, and thus may also limit the toad's food supply. Amphibians in general are very sensitive to many pollutants, including pesticides and other organic compounds. These chemicals may affect the toad directly, particularly in the tadpole stage, or indirectly by lowering the abundance and diversity of its food supply.

Widespread use of pesticides and herbicides from about to may also have contributed to declining populations. During this period, DDT and similar non-specific chemicals accumulated in the environment, affecting a wide variety of animal life. Although threats from persistent, non-specific chemicals are not as serious today as in the past, the use of pesticides and herbicides for agricultural and residential purposes may still pose a danger for the Houston toad, but can be used successfully with guidance to reduce harm to the toad.

Although Houston toad populations are inherently separated because they exist only in areas of deep sandy soil, further fragmentation of habitat due to human activity can exaggerate the problem.

Widely scattered parcels of habitat may not easily be re-colonized by distant Houston toads if extensive areas of unsuitable habitat occur between populations, or when human impacts eliminate a population. You can help by voluntarily protecting potential Houston toad habitat. Conservation and wise management of native vegetation and protecting existing, shallow ponds and potential breeding sites is important in preserving Houston toad habitat.

You can also help by landscaping with native plants to reduce water and pesticide use, and by proper storage and disposal of household, gardening, and agricultural chemicals. Thoughtful and effective compromises between human resource needs and habitat management can allow for the continued survival and recovery of the Houston Toad.

Donate today and help Houston toads! Houston Toad vs. Gulf Coast Toad. This is the case with the Houston toad, which has been eliminated from a significant portion of its modest range in the last 30 years. Houston toads are generally brown and speckled, but individual coloration can vary considerably, with some appearing to be light brown and others almost black.

They also may have a slightly reddish, yellowish or greyish hue. Their legs have darker bands across them, and there are two dark bands extending from each eye down to the mouth. Their undersides are generally white with variable amounts of black speckling.