Page 6 - Kind News, May/June 2022

DIY

CRITTER

CLUES

1 I am the only mammal in
the world who grows scales!

TOAD ABODE 2 I am nocturnal, which
means I am active at night.

3 When I’m scared, I roll
Inviting toads to live in your yard or neighborhood myself up into a ball.
is a good idea. Why? One toad can eat up to
10,000 insects — like flies and mosquitoes — and 2,000 4 I love eating insects — I can
cutworms in one summer! Cutworms eat the stems of eat up to 70 million a year!
young plants, so keeping the number of cutworms
down can protect plants in your outdoor space. 5 My tongue can be as long
as my body, up to 28
Toads mostly hunt at night. During the day, they like to sleep inches! I use it to snack on
under rocks, logs, or leaves. If these are hard to find, you can the insects I find.
make a toad house, and then watch to see who moves in!

YOU’LL NEED: 6 Even though I look and act
similar to an anteater, I am
• One unpainted clay pot
more closely related to
• One small saucer or used lid for water cats, dogs, and bears.
• Stones, shells, or other items you find outside to decorate
7 I live in many different
• Glue
habitats, such as rainforests
DIRECTIONS: and grasslands.

1 Find a shady spot for your house, like under a low shrub.
Toads feel safer and more comfortable when their home
is a little hidden. What am I?
2 Dig a hole in the dirt and bury your clay pot on its
side so that it is halfway in the ground.
3 Use the extra dirt to bury the back of the clay pot.
4 Decorate your toad abode by gluing stones or other
decorations to the roof.
5 Place the lid next to the house and fill with water.
6 Toads need lots of water. Keep the lid filled with water
and watch for toads!

It is best to observe toads from a distance. When toads are
scared, they secrete, or ooze, a white liquid through their skin
that can burn. It makes them taste bad so most predators will
leave them alone.

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