Tough Toad
Nobody tougher! In our changing world, amphibians face many challenges, from viral infection and invasive fungus to environmental toxins to drought and overdevelopment reducing critical habitat. Frogs and toads are frequently considered environmental indicator species, because their ability to survive in an environment for any length of time suggests that it is relatively unpolluted and well-preserved. With that said, having a unique physiology that makes them especially vulnerable to environmental disruption says nothing about their attitude, and as we work together to raise awareness for the necessity of conservation efforts to protect amphibians, here I present you with one tough toad.
I met this particular toad, the toad who inspired my illustration, in spring of 2024 at Cox Hall Creek Wildlife Management Area in southern New Jersey. I was going through a difficult time in my life and was hiking through a haze of depression when I noticed him in the middle of the asphalt path in front of me, squared off with his mouth set in a fighting line, ready to throw down. He let me take his picture before leaping away when I tried to move him to safety, and has been my phone background since. If, despite all the difficulties of life as a toad, this little guy was still hanging in there, staring down humans and caterwauling like a wounded witch (as Fowler’s toads do in spring), surely I could survive my own troubles too. Tough toad teaches that grit isn’t developed in a vacuum; it’s the challenges we face that make us stronger. May this gear find you a bit more like my feisty little friend: undaunted by even the biggest threats, committed to following the path, ready to take on any challenger that foolishly steps in the way.
