Naturalist View August 2010

Monsoon storms, Lightning and Toads

In Arizona, the monsoon begins with the extreme dry heat of May and June, when temperatures rise to 100 plus degrees. As the atmosphere warms, the dry jet stream moves northward and the winds shift up from the south bringing in humidity and moisture from the Sea of Cortez. Once the moist air arrives, the intense summer sun heats the air, creating cumulonimbus clouds, which lead to afternoon and evening thunderstorms and spectacular displays of lightning. It’s a great time to sit out in the patio and watch the storms move up the Catalina Mountain range from Pusch Ridge toward Saddlebrooke. Of course sitting on your patio is not the safe thing to do, and I am not recommending that you watch lightning storms while having a beer on the porch.

What do you do when lightning is near?

  • Avoid high ground, water, solitary trees, open spaces, metallic objects. Search for low   ground, ditches unless they contain water or if the ground is saturated, then find clumps of shrubbery or trees, all of uniform height.

  • Remove all metal objects, bracelets, watches, rings, if possible. It is best to crouch down on the balls of your feet with your hands over your ears. There should be at least 20 feet between you and other people. Do not all huddle together.

  • If you are in a fully enclosed metal automobile, seek refuge with all the windows rolled up and your hands in your lap.

  • Avoid all metal shelters and sun shelters. If golfing, put down the clubs and get off the golf course.

Some Interesting Lightning Data

  • Around the earth there are 100 lightning strikes per second. That’s over 8 million a day!

  • Americans are twice more likely to die from lightning than from a hurricane, tornado or flood.

  • Annually, there are more than 10,000 forest fires caused by lightning.

  • 85% of lightning victims are children and young men aged 10-35 engaged in outdoor recreation and work 

    activities such as golf.

Toads in Saddlebrooke

I’m sure that by this time you have noticed that the toads are active as the monsoon rains are very important to their life cycle. During the summer monsoon season, Sonoran Desert Toads (Bufo alvarius) are common, nocturnal visitors to yards near water. They emerge after the summer rains in order to feed and breed in large, temporary rain pools. Eggs are laid in the puddles and permanent ponds. Larvae metamorphose in as little as two weeks. This species lives from 10 to 20 years.

During the rest of the year, Sonoran Desert Toads hibernate underground. These huge toads like to gorge on insects, especially beetles, near outdoor lights or lighted windows and doors. Male Sonoran Desert Toads will also get into swimming pools and then call to attract females.

With their large size and frequent habit of sitting nonchalantly out in the open as they wait for something edible to happen by, Sonoran Desert Toads might seem to be an easy target for predators, but these large, slow toads are very well defended. If picked up or mouthed by a predator, Sonoran Desert Toads will exude a potent, milky white toxin from their parotoid glands. If ingested, their toxin is capable of seriously sickening or killing potential predators.

Residents are usually aware of the Sonoran Desert Toad (formerly known as the Colorado River Toad) but other toads found in Saddlebrooke include the Red-spotted , Great-plains and Woodhouses toads. For the last 10 years I have taken a census during the Moonson rains by counting the toads at certain locations around the golf courses. Last year I took my brother and my niece on what started as a light rain but ended as a real gully washer. My niece and I had a great time; I’m not so sure my brother did. We all got very wet but counted 127 toads. As I write this in Late June, I am waiting for that Monsoon rain and looking for volunteers for this years toad count.

Sonoran Desert Toad

A Toad for all Seasons

Oh big fat toad

upon the road

why do you sit so still?

The rain has come

to cool your tum

your pond begin to fill

With Summer's song

don't sit too long

a lady passing by.

Her favour's give

new life to live

don't leave her there to sigh….

By Jayne Scott

Suggestion: If you leave a water dish outside for your pet a toad may sit in it at night and leave some of its toxin in the water. Just in case rinse out and refill before your pet drinks from it in the morning.

Symptoms of poisoning in pets

 • Pawing at mouth

 • Licking of lips and drooling

 • Dazed or uncoordinated behavior

Treatment

 • If the animal is conscious, rinse its mouth with a gentle flow of water. Don't force water into the throat; run 

   the water gently from the side of the mouth out the front.

 • If the eyes are affected, rinse them gently with water as well.

 • Wet the animal's coat to help keep body temperature down.

 • Take the animal to a veterinarian immediately.

Toad venom is not a great risk to humans who handle them, but you should wash your hands before touching eyes, mouth or nose after touching a venomous toad.

Thanks to all of you who are not using poisons to control pests. Let’s be good neighbors to our native plants and animals. I will be teaching “Natural History of the Sky Islands” again in October in Saddlebrooke. Any wildlife problems or questions call me 818-3545 or e-mail jecloer@aol.com