Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My girlfriend that is also a ‘herp’ works at this news station answering phone calls some days, well yesterday she got the call about a bunch of toads everywhere, evidently the people where panic stricken likening the event to a biblical plague. Of course she called me right after words and we went out to check out the action, and to find where all of them where stemming from, well I found where they where coming from and lo and behold, it wasn’t a plague but one of the largest amphibian migrations I have ever witnessed, literally thousands and thousands of the cute little guys where hopping with joy on there new found legs. My girl friend and I rescued roughly 500 of the little guys from one of those sunken green sprinkler box’s whose top was off, and built a rock ladder so that those we couldn’t get out (the box was 18”X10” by 8” deep, and had 3” of solid baby toads in the bottom!) Could get out, and others would be safe if they fell in. Here is a copy of the letter I wrote to Miss Jacqueline Sit.

Here is the link to the story that was on the news:
The link to the story

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To you im just the crazy snake guy, but to some I'm a 'Herp'.

DANGIT! well here is the letter i wrote to Mrs. Sit.

Dear Miss Jacqueline Sit,

My name is Eric Billings, and I am an armature Herpetologist. I would like to clarify that the amphibian migration is not the result of a biblical plague or anything like that, it just so happens that it has been years since the depression behind Johnny Carinos next to Home Depot (off 42nd street in Odessa TX) is full of water, this has allowed man Red Spot Toads, Great Plains toads, and Texas Toads to lay there eggs with little if any predation. The area back there is clean enough (unlike out local walking trail pond across the street) to support amphibian life. This is not a unnatural occurrence and is something seen every 5-10 years when good rains, during the late spring/summer allows. Because of declining amphibian populations this might be one of the only times that our children get to see such an event. If you have any further questions, or would like any help identifying any of the reptile life in the area, please contact me.

Eric Billings
Herptophile
432-634-0248
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To you im just the crazy snake guy, but to some I'm a 'Herp'.