What could have killed this toad?

werdnal · #1 (**permalink**) 12-05-2011, 08:25 PM

Was cutting our grass yesterday when I noticed a huge toad on the edge of our driveway. I thought to myself "lucky I'd left the car out when I came home, otherwise I'd have run him over". He/she was very large, and looked quite healthy - no injuries or strange colouration, bright eyes etc. I went to pick him up and put him out of harms way, and discovered he was hardly breathing - infact I wasn't sure if he was alive or dead. I put him in a shallow dish of pond water in the shade, leaving his head exposed, but dowsed water over him. Left him there for about 10-15 minutes, whilst I finished mowing, then went back, but he was still showing no sign of life. I put him in some long wet grass at the edge of the garden, and a few hours later, I checked and this time I could tell he was definately dead.

I just wondered what could have caused it. No obvious injury or illness? He was out in the open and it was quite hot and sunny at times yesterday, but he was only a foot or so from some long grass and a shady cool spot. Could it just have been old age? I'd like to think so and he was so large he must have lived a good life! He must have only been there a short time otherwise I'd have seen him earlier in the day. Just curious really - any thoughts please?

Farplace · #2 (**permalink**) 12-05-2011, 08:28 PM

At a guess, old age coupled with heat stroke. What a shame.

Kayleigh · #3 (**permalink**) 12-05-2011, 08:40 PM

I blame a cat..
they play with toads/frogs and leave invisible puncture wounds that causes bacterial infections that kills the victim.
This is only one of the multiple choices that could have happened to the toad and unless you sent it off for analysis then your not likely to know the real cause of death.