Caution: Toadlets Everywhere! 🐸

This weekend, we went for a walk near Gönninger Seen, a beautiful quiet spot tucked into the forest here in southern Baden-Württemberg, and we stumbled upon something magical (and a little heartbreaking):

✨ Tiny baby toads everywhere.

There were hundreds of tiny brown toads crawling and bouncing clumsily across the paths... no bigger than a fingernail! 🐸💚 It’s officially baby toad season, and they’re making their first journey from water to forest.

There were even signs asking people to be careful and look down when walking: these little guys are easy to miss and even easier to accidentally step on. 😥

These are young Bufo bufo, or common toads, who just finished their transformation from tadpole to toadlet and are now making their way from the water into the forest completely on their own. No parents. No protection. Pure instinct and survival only.

⚠️ Please don’t touch them... and definitely try not to step on them.

Even if you want to help, it’s better not to interfere:

• Their skin absorbs everything: sunscreen, bacteria, even the oils on our hands can harm them

• They’re extremely fragile and stress easily

• They're doing what they’re born to do. Trust the process 🐾
  
  

💔 But here’s the hard part: most won’t make it.

Out of thousands of eggs, less than 1% survive to adulthood. That’s just how nature works: most become food for other animals or get lost before finding shelter.

That’s why even just stepping carefully during this season matters more than you think. 🚶

Some wild toad truths:

• They don’t hop like frogs. They crawl and scoot, so they’re easy to miss

• Their first days on land are the most dangerous of their lives

• As adults, they help control insects like mosquitoes and slugs

• In Germany, they’re legally protected. It’s actually against the law to disturb their habitats

So if you’re heading into the woods or walking near water this month, just watch your step. You might be sharing the trail with some very small travelers. ✨

Have you seen baby toads in your area? Let us know or share a photo with us! 📸