Strange Creature From Another World ???

[kurusu]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

...or just a common backyard predator???

(Eric and Alvin are always posting oddball stuff, I thought I would post this)...

Taking the trash out this morning, I saw this creature sitting on my trash can. On first glance, I thought it was a piece of tree moss...until it moved...Tucked one of its legs in, actually...So, I thought it must be a cleverly camouflaged bug of some sort...So I took its picture, just for S&G...

When I got the pic blown up, I saw it wasn't a bug at all. It seems to me to be some kind of toad. I know less about toads than I do about Lugers, so does anyone know what this thing is???

I believe in the sanctity of life and I treasure bug-eating creatures so I've left this creature to its own devices. My trash always has flies around it, so I think this is looking for a meal. Haven't seen a tongue, or even a mouth - it's too small. It's about an inch long, andIt I don't see any wings so it must have crawled up the sides of the plastic trash can to the lid.

I have lots of small toads this year, babies maybe, although I haven't seen any big ones. There have been a lot of small biting insects, grayish-white, in the short grass, about 1/4 inch long, that leave itching red spots. I hope this guy eats them.

This toad (or whatever) has a great camouflage job, making me suspect it is a kind of tree-toad, if there is such a thing.

Any thoughts??? In 67 years, I can't recall ever seeing anything like this.

They do jump quite well.