Raising Toads or Lizards outside?

[SaoirseC]

Planning for next year's garden, I'm starting to think about predators. I thought it would be quite fun to have a garden toad or lizard. I'm in a zone 4/5 (map says zone 5, but our temps can go a little lower during the winter). The garden is boxed in on all sides- 2 sides are a 4 ft. tall wooden fence, one side is a 2 ft. tall fence, and the 4th side is our house. There's a little shade on one end (under a black walnut tree) and I could make a little shelter somewhere. The neighbor does have a dog, but there aren't too many cats in the area. Anyway, has anyone done this? Where do you find toads or lizards? Could I buy one in a pet store that would survive or should I find one locally? I might be able to encourage some kids to find a toad or lizard for me. How can I ensure that they will survive the winter? I plan for these animals to be a sort of pet, but not caged in any manner.

[Oubliette8]

I would strongly recommend against buying a lizard or toad from a pet shop to house outside. Releasing a non-native species into the environment is never a good idea. If the poor thing doesn't die, they can throw off the natural ecosystem. In areas like Florida exotic reptiles that have been released are actually causing big problems for the native wildlife- pythons and monitors are actually eating and/or out competing endangered species.

My best suggestion would be to try to find a local toad. Or, if you set your garden up right up, with some cool, moist shade areas and some hiding spots, they may come naturally. If they come naturally, do nothing, they'll take care of themselves. If you need to transplant one, I would provide it with a way out of the garden if it so chooses so it can find proper winter quarters.

The other idea is a box turtle. The are illegal to collect from the wild in many areas, but a turtle is easier to confine than a toad or lizard. Box turtles actually do very well in a large outdoor area. They would need access to a shallow water pan for soaking in though, and may help themselves to some of your garden plants. Plus, they need protection at night in the form of some sort of predator proof cover or raccoons and such will eat them. There are plenty of resources on the web about proper winter habitat for turtles. My grandmother had them for years and they'd come running when she called them because they new she always had a treat for them. They are herbivores though mostly, may eat a bug or two, but its not their primary diet. And of course, they live for decades so you sould be sure its what you want before you take one on.

[Arduinna]

They should already live in your natural enviroment if they are meant to. We have lizards all over along with tree frogs. I don't think one should release non native species.

[SaoirseC]

Originally Posted by Oubliette8

I would strongly recommend against buying a lizard or toad from a pet shop to house outside.

This is what I was thinking, but I wasn't sure how to get a toad here any other way.

A box turtle sounds like a cute pet idea (I'd prefer it over a dog), but it probably wouldn't help to keep the garden pests down.

They should already live in your natural enviroment if they are meant to.

Except when they're displaced by urbanization. Mountain lions, bighorn sheep, bison, and bears all lived here at one point in time but I haven't seen any around lately. I agree with not releasing non-native species.