Great Basin Spadefoot Toad - Sierra Club BC
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Great Basin Spadefoot Toad

CAN BE FOUND IN:

Great Basin Spadefoot Toad

Spea intermontana 

Appearance 

These toads are small and round with grey-green skin and pale bellies. They have big yellow eyes with a bump between them and small bumps all over their skin. The big toe on each back foot has a “spade,” a small black piece that is used for digging. 

Range & Habitat 

In B.C., spadefoot toads are found in the southern Interior. They’re also found throughout Oregon and Washington. They like dry areas, especially grasslands, but they also need water in which to lay their eggs. 

Reciprocal Relationships 

The Great Basin spadefoot toad is important to maintain balance in pond aquatic systems. They feed on algae, which, when overgrown, can result in the depletion of oxygen in an aquatic area. They also eat dead fish, insects, and worms. During the day, these toads burrow into the soil to keep themselves moist, but at night or on a rainy day, they come out to feed. They can remain underground, hibernating, for 8 months out of the year.  

This toad’s population is currently threatened. Humans across the Okanagan are working to protect this species. They are protected under the Wildlife Act and thus cannot be killed, collected, or held in captivity. Many animals prey on great basin spadefoots, including owls, snakes and coyotes. They are threatened by habitat loss from development in and near the grasslands, woodlands and ponds where they live. Sport fishing might also hurt these toads, as fish stocking results in an excess of predators.  

Status 

COSEWIC: Threatened 
CDC: Blue 

More Information 

If you belong to a First Nation with a story or piece of information not represented here and you would like to share more about this species, please email us at education@sierraclub.bc.ca

Photo credit

Canva

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