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American Toad

Anaxyrus americanus

Amphibian · family Bufonidae · order Anura

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

American Toad
Photo: Cephas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
37 states[3]
Longest recorded life
36 years[4]

The American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus) is an amphibian in the family Bufonidae[5]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure worldwide, and it is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[2][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the American Toad a global rank of G5 and a national rank of N5 for the United States[2][6]. Both mean Secure[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. The toad is not listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act in USFWS data checked on 2026-10-30[1]. NatureServe has one note of anecdotal reports of decline across the range[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[9] >1,000,000 individuals

Where American Toad lives

NatureServe lists the American Toad as native in 37 US states and territories[3]. These run from Maine and Minnesota down to Texas, Georgia and Louisiana, and include the District of Columbia[3]. State ranks differ. Most states rank it as secure, but Nebraska and Louisiana give it a lower rank[10]. Observation records on GBIF are most plentiful for New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio and Virginia, which reflects where people look and report[11].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S5MEWisconsin: native, state rank S5WIVermont: native, state rank S5VTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S5NHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SNRNDMinnesota: native, state rank S5MNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S5NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S5MAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank SUSDIowa: native, state rank S5IAIndiana: native, state rank SNRINOhio: native, state rank SNROHPennsylvania: native, state rank S5PANew Jersey: native, state rank S5NJConnecticut: native, state rank S5CTRhode Island: native, state rank S5RICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: native, state rank S1NEMissouri: native, state rank S5MOKentucky: native, state rank S5KYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5WVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S5MDDelaware: native, state rank S5DEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: native, state rank S5KSArkansas: native, state rank S5ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5NCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S5SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S5DCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: native, state rank S3LAMississippi: native, state rank S4MSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S4TXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[10].
Show state ranks (37 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
ArkansasS5Secure
ConnecticutS5Secure
DelawareS5Secure
District of ColumbiaS5Secure
GeorgiaS5Secure
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaSNRNot Ranked
IowaS5Secure
KansasS5Secure
KentuckyS5Secure
LouisianaS3Vulnerable
MaineS5Secure
MarylandS5Secure
MassachusettsS5Secure
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaS5Secure
MississippiS4Apparently Secure
MissouriS5Secure
NebraskaS1Critically Imperiled
New HampshireS5Secure
New JerseyS5Secure
New YorkS5Secure
North CarolinaS5Secure
North DakotaSNRNot Ranked
OhioSNRNot Ranked
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
PennsylvaniaS5Secure
Rhode IslandS5Secure
South CarolinaS5Secure
South DakotaSUUnrankable
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS4Apparently Secure
VermontS5Secure
VirginiaS5Secure
West VirginiaS5Secure
WisconsinS5Secure

Habitat

On land, this toad lives in forests, woodlands, grasslands, old fields, cropland and hedgerows, and suburban areas and orchards[12]. It also uses wetlands, bogs, streams and pools[12]. NatureServe says it can live in many kinds of places as long as there is enough moisture, food and a good spot to breed[13]. It breeds in shallow, still or slow water, often where there are few fishes[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[12]

Size, diet and lifespan

Adults eat small invertebrates, so NatureServe calls them invertivores[14][15]. The tadpoles eat algae, plant tissue and bits of organic matter in the water[14]. NatureServe records a typical length of 11 cm (4 in)[16]. The longest recorded lifespan in AnAge is 36 years in captivity, and this is a record, not a typical lifespan[4]. AnAge lists a clutch size of 6000 and an incubation period of 8 days[17][18]. Young toads reach breeding age after 2 to 3 years[19].

Trait Value
Typical length[16] 11 cm (4 in)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 36 years (captivity)
Litter or clutch size[17] 6000
Gestation or incubation[18] 8 days
Female maturity[20] 910 days (about 2.5 years)
Food habits[15] Invertivore
Migration[21] local migrant

When to look for it

The American Toad hibernates in the coldest months and may rest through hot, dry spells in summer[22]. It is mostly active at night, but it can also be active by day, and NatureServe lists crepuscular activity too, which means active around dawn and dusk[22][23]. Breeding happens in spring, or in winter in the south[19]. Adults walk as far as several hundred meters from their land habitat to the breeding pools and back[24]. GBIF records peak in May, June and July[25].

January: 187 recordsJanFebruary: 731 recordsFebMarch: 5,407 recordsMarApril: 14,531 recordsAprMay: 23,498 recordsMayJune: 22,740 recordsJunJuly: 21,435 recordsJulAugust: 19,585 recordsAugSeptember: 16,323 recordsSepOctober: 4,270 recordsOctNovember: 630 recordsNovDecember: 149 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[25].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January187
February731
March5,407
April14,531
May23,498
June22,740
July21,435
August19,585
September16,323
October4,270
November630
December149

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record American Toad as present in 17 park units[26]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia[11]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the American Toad endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure[2].
Where does the American Toad live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 37 US states and territories, including the District of Columbia[3]. It uses many habitats, from forests to grasslands, where there is enough moisture and food[12][13].
What does the American Toad eat?
Adults eat small invertebrates[14][15]. Tadpoles eat algae, plant tissue and organic matter in the water[14].
How big is the American Toad?
NatureServe records a typical length of 11 cm (4 in)[16].
How long does the American Toad live?
The longest recorded lifespan in AnAge is 36 years in captivity[4]. That is a record, not a typical lifespan.

Facts and sources

  1. American Toad is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for American Toad: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists American Toad as native in 37 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 36 years in captivity. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus) is a amphibian in the family Bufonidae, order Anura. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe notes on trend for American Toad. NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe state ranks for American Toad (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  11. US states with the most GBIF observation records of American Toad: New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  12. Habitat types NatureServe records for American Toad: Forest - hardwood, Forest - conifer, Forest - mixed, Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - conifer, Woodland - mixed, Grassland/herbaceous, Old field, Cropland/hedgerow, Suburban/orchard, Temporary pool,... NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for American Toad. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on food for American Toad. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 11 cm (4 in). NatureServe Explorer
  17. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 6000. AnAge
  18. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 8 days. AnAge
  19. NatureServe notes on reproduction for American Toad. NatureServe Explorer
  20. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 910 days (about 2.5 years). AnAge
  21. NatureServe migration category for American Toad: local migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  22. NatureServe notes on phenology for American Toad. NatureServe Explorer
  23. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Hibernates/aestivates, Diurnal, Nocturnal, Crepuscular. NatureServe Explorer
  24. NatureServe notes on migration for American Toad. NatureServe Explorer
  25. GBIF observation records of American Toad in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  26. NPSpecies park lists recording American Toad as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Cephas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.