Yesterday I was working in the garden and came across a large american toad. I was wearing the garden gloves, so I picked him up and noticed that one of his rear legs was amputated at the beginning part of the foot. Looked kinda like he had one long toe. It definately did not hinder his jumping ability.
Last August we found a similariy-afflicted toad in about the same place, only he was an inch smaller back then. With the exact affliction, similar markings and in the same enclosed garden, it had to be the same toad. I figure it was not genetic; there are farm fields by the house, and maybe he just got a little too close to one of the tractor blades. This is just another fascinating story of survival about those awesome toads. I sent the toad on his way and told him to eat as many mosquitos as possible.
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*~Ginevive~*