Western Toad
(Bufo boreas)
Western Toad
The western toad is
found throughout the
mountains and intermountain
valleys of
western Montana on both
sides of the Continental Divide. Habitats
include low-elevation riparian and marshy
areas to high-elevation ponds and fens.
Conservation concerns include: breeding site
destruction; diseases such as red-leg disease
and chytrid fungus; and increased predation
by species attracted to human disturbance.
Conservation strategies
include: surveying wetlands
suitable for
western toads and
protecting certain wetlands
from introduced species and human
disturbance; preventing spread of chytrid
fungus. [Personnel working at sites should
thoroughly rinse and decontaminate all
equipment as described in Maxell et al.,
2004.]; and avoiding stocking of predatory
game fi sh at sites lacking them.
