Bufo Boreas

Western Toad

Identification/Variations: The Western toad is large, reaching up to 5 inches in total length. The skin color may be brown, tan, red, or olive green. Western toads also have a conspicuous yellow strip running down their spine. The Western toad is classified into two  regional variations. The Boreal Toad is found throughout the northwest region and the California Toad is found in central and southern California.

Range/Habitat: Western Toads are found throughout the Pacific Northwest with the exception of the Willamette Valley. The are primarily nocturnal, but may be found during the day as well (especially on cooler days at higher elevations). Bufo boreas is typically found around meadows, marshes, alpine lakes, and other slow moving sources of water. 

Notes: A remarkable little animal that I have found on days where snow and ice still covered most of the ground as well as on nights when the daytime temperature was pushing 100 degrees. These toads may lay over 10,000 eggs in a single summer and it is possible to observe multitudes of toadlets at the right time of year. These animals don't care to be handled by people at all and will let them know with a sudden release of urine (be warned).