For the boreal toad, it’s all about doing things a little differently.

Conventional wisdom says that toads use their powerful back legs to hop along. Not the boreal toad. Rather than leaping bounces, it is known for its casual sauntering walk.

Some might think toads love to hang out at a warm, sunny pond during the day. Not the boreal toad. These toads usually remain underground during the day, only to surface in the cool, damp evenings to look for beetles, ants, slugs and worms to eat.

While most toads call out in a throaty ‘croak’, the boreal toad’ call is a sharp little ‘peep!’ much like that of a chick. These calls, coming mostly from males, often signify aggression toward other males, rather than a mating call.

These cute little toads can reach up to 11cm in length and have yellow eyes, a pale throat and warty skin the colour of molted olive. You can recognize them by the light-coloured stripe along their back. While the boreal toad defies the myth that toads cause warts, it does produce a mild toxin that can irritate skin. If you do find one and pick it up, be sure to wash your hands afterwards!