Toad in water meter

[GypsGal1718]

We have had a large toad living in our water meter for a few years now- he seems to be happy and he is able to go along the pipe I think as I see him hopping out of sight. And he is got other smaller toads there too. He obviously has food and water down there but I have always wondered if I should release him? Any ideas?

 

[Jenko109]

I don't feel like I've had enough sleep to cope with this sort of conundrum.

 

[Keith_Beef]

I'm having trouble imagining how a toad could live inside a water meter.

TTRNP

 

[GypsGal1718]

Here he is and here is where he lives!

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I should leave him, he looks healthy and if he has survived for so long down there and can get out down the ppe no need to disturb him/her.

 

[Littlest Hobo]

Might be a she?? Looks quite happy and fed anyway. Im jealous, haven't seen s toad for years.

 

[GypsGal1718]

Thanks for the advice ! Turns out Trevor might be a she!

 

[St Nicnaclaus]

Looks very happy in its house. I'd leave well alone.

 

[Jenko109]

Perhaps she is probably quite institutionalised by now?

 

[nutjob]

I live near a stream / small river and have a lot of common toads about the place they are all almost black. This one looks nothing like any I have ever seen, maybe it's been underground for too long!

 

[Pedantic]

Try asking Hissing Sid, allegedly according to Captain Beaky, he once gobbled Toad, so obviously friends , maybe he knows his preferences....

 

[Babypony]

Here he is and here is where he lives!View attachment 168959View attachment 168960

Did the toad give permission for his/her photo to be posted?

Toad has a right to quiet enjoyment in his/her property, please give 24 hours notice before inspecting his/her premises.

 

[Widgeon]

Toad has a right to quiet enjoyment in his/her property, please give 24 hours notice before inspecting his/her premises.

Joking aside I would keep a close eye on any activity by the water company (should you ever have a meter leak etc) and be ready to swoop in and temporarily evacuate Toady! Other than that what a cool neighbour to have.

We have quite a few toads around and in our pond. They're certainly not black like @nutjob 's but none of them look like yours either - ours are more brown and warty. Yours is awfully pale!! Perhaps she's adapting to an underground life....

 

[HaplessHorse]

She’s the toad equivalent of me! Very pale and would prefer to live in a hole in the ground rather than face the big wide world!

 

[irishdraft]

I live near a stream / small river and have a lot of common toads about the place they are all almost black. This one looks nothing like any I have ever seen, maybe it's been underground for too long!

I agree, we have a couple of toads about the place and they are much darker than this one x

 

[Dam1]

Silly question - can he/she actually get out if needs to ??

 

[meleeka]

If they can't get out I would lift him/her out and see if they jump back in. They might hop away quickly, or just hop straight back in the hole. I feel a bit sorry for it if it's trapped in there.

 

[Jenko109]

Would it really survive all this time if it were trapped?

It's such a small space. There surely would not be enough to sustain it for years?

 

[Jenko109]

Okay.

Ive solved it.

You need to build her a ladder of some sort.

Then she can choose for herself if she would like to stay or go.

Good luck with your ladder project. Neil Buchanan would be proud.

 

[Keith_Beef]

You could build a little ladder and add a little door to the well cover so that the toad can come and go as it pleases.

 

[Capalldonn]

I think it's a she (the smaller ones probably males). I would leave them where they are, especially now before the winter. If they've been fine for years there's no reason to believe they have a problem. On the contrary.

I think they've dug a tunnel down there rather than fallen into the pit. Looks as if there's a hole in the wall just beneath the pipe? Most likely their way in and out.

 

[GypsGal1718]

I think it is their way in and out as sometimes I see them scuttle off down the hole! And sometimes I can’t see them when I open it!

 

[YourValentine]

I've seen loads of frogs and toads living in similar places.

They've probably very happy down there - cool, damp and probably attracts insects to snack on.

 

[Burnerbee]

If she got in, presumably she can get out? But as someone else says, she’s lived there for years - if she weren’t okay, nature being nature, she’d have died by now I reckon