Garter snake w/toadI saw my first garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) and first toad (Bufo americanus) of the year today. One was trying to eat the other. It reminded me of a similar sight 49 years ago. In both cases, the toads escaped thanks to the big paratoid gland that toads have on each shoulder behind the eye. These glands secrete bufotoxin—the toad’s main defense. When attacked by a snake, the toad inflates its body, making itself harder and slower to swallow and giving the bufotoxin longer to inflame the snake’s eyes or digestive tract.
Garter snake toad 6-72In the escape back in June 1972, the 36-inch garter snake was trying to swallow a big toad headfirst. Inflated, the toad was making that as hard as possible. The parotoid glands were inside the snake’s mouth. After a few minutes the snake worked the toad out of her mouth. I say her because the snake gave birth to 37 five- and six-inch long babies a couple days later.
In the escape today, the smaller snake (maybe two feet long) was swallowing the toad feet first and had the legs and part of the body down its throat. The snake moved one side of its mouth forward and then the other on the inflated toad until it ran into the parotoid glands. A few minutes later, the snake worked the toad back out, apparently none the worse for wear.
Garter snake vs toadIt was a great day seeing bears, too—including Valentine, gentle Fred, many yearlings, and two chases by Valentine of her yearling Dexter. The first was half-hearted. The second was longer and faster, telling Dexter that she (Valentine) had to eat without competition to maintain her pregnancy. Chloe, Lucy, and their cubs should show up soon.
Had a nice talk with Joel Rosenthal today, sharing memories about bears we’ve met, especially his 11-year-old wild bear friend Rose.
Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center