Canadian Toad
In this section
Description
Canadian toads are short-legged amphibians. They are generally thick skinned, rough in appearance and covered with wart-like bumps with prominent oval or kidney-shaped glands over the shoulders. The Canadian toad is generally grey-green or brown with a white to pale yellowish belly that may be spotted with grey.
The voice of the Canadian toad is a short, soft trill that repeats about every 30 seconds. Listen to its call at www.naturewatch.ca/frogwatch/canadian-toad
Habitat and biology
Canadian toads live on land except for a brief period in spring when they gather to breed in ponds and shallow edges of lakes or slow flowing rivers. Toads, unlike frogs, lay their eggs in strings, typically producing two strings simultaneously.
The hard projections found on their hind feet are used for digging. Toads dig backwards using a shuffling motion so they sink into the ground.
Canadian toads hibernate by digging deep into the earth where the frost cannot reach them.
Their diet can consist of beetles, ants, bees, wasps and spiders.
Distribution and status
The Canadian toad appears to be uncommon in the Northwest Territories (NWT) and has been found only in NWT portions of Wood Buffalo National Park near Fort Smith. It is probably limited to areas where it can dig easily into sandy soils and where the ground freezes only to a relatively shallow depth.
The status of Canadian toad has not been formally assessed, but a comprehensive report on Canadian toad in the NWT was published in 2025 and is available here. The NWT Amphibian Management Plan guides the conservation of all amphibians in the NWT.
If you see a toad, let us know! Contact the ECC Fort Smith Regional office, email wildlifeobs@gov.nt.ca, or share your observations on iNaturalist.ca. The Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of the Northwest Territories can help you learn what to look for.
