Toads lead to the vitality of landscapes, provide valuable services from the yard, like consuming pests, and serve as good indicators of the ecosystem — if the toads and frogs remain healthy, most probably so is your yard. However, for many, toads have an unsightly appearance, croak too loudly and dig unappealing holes once burrowing. The most humane, effective way of eliminating toads in your yard is taking them out of their comfort zone. That is, decreasing their food supply and limiting their options for living areas.
Eliminate all woodpiles, unused planters, empty pots and collections of yard debris in your yard. Toads prefer damp, dark places to inhabit when not feeding. Taking away the toads’ living spaces forces them to move elsewhere for shelter.
Fill any holes in your yard in winter with soil until it reaches 4 inches from ground level and tamp down securely. Fill until 4 inches from ground level and plug with sod if needed. If you decide not to plug the hole using sod, add soil until it reaches ground level. Toads burrow underground in winter and estivate, or enter a dormant stage, until the weather warms. Filling their burrows traps them prevents them from going into the burrow.
Pull all weeds in your yard by hand or use a general-purpose herbicide containing the active ingredients 2,4-D or dicamba. Frogs inhabit classes of weeds and lie in await insects when feeding at the late hours. Herbicides also purportedly disturb toads’ endocrine systems, making them expire.
Remove the water from vessels like fountains, birdbaths and pet bowls. This rids your yard of toads two methods: it eliminates a pure attraction — water — and reduces mosquitos, among toads’ main food sources.
Eliminate open dishes of pet food from the yard. Toads are omnivorous and eat cat and dog food if necessary.