by Rick LoBello
I am so happy to see the return of the monsoon rains to El Paso and hope that the rain continues because everyone living in the Chihuahuan Desert knows how much we need rain. Three nights ago, my neighborhood received an inch or more and it was just enough to wake up the Couch’s spadefoot toads that live near my house. Spadefoot toads are well-known for their ability to survive long periods buried underground, a behavior calledĀ aestivation. They bury themselves to escape the dry conditions and heat above ground, conserving water by absorbing moisture from the soil. This is a form of dormancy similar to hibernation, but occurring during hot, dry periods.Ā No one really knows how long the toads in our area can stay underground waiting for rain, but an eastern spadefoot was documented to use the same burrow for up toĀ 24 months.Ā The duration of their buried dormancy can vary considerably depending on the specific species and environmental conditions, but it can be quite extended.
As they called out to each other in hopes of finding a mate I rejoiced at hearing the chorus knowing that is has been years since I experienced this kind of enchanting desert music.
What kinds of frogs are you seeing?
With this post I want to see how many of our readers are noticing the frogs in our area. Years ago, I posted a video on YouTube (see below) where you can see and hear the two most common frogs in El Paso, the Couch’s spadefoot toad and the red-spotted toad (the feature photo above of a male calling for a female). If you are not sure what you are hearing at night this video might help. If you want to share your observations you can use the form below.
If I get enough responses I will report back here.
Frog Observation Reporting Form
