How to overwinter toads in dry land? A detailed explanation of breeding methods
In the last 10-plus years, as the trading prices of animal-based Chinese medicinal materials on the medicinal materials market have risen, the market prices of toad venom, toad skin and dried toad have also been rising day by day. This is mainly because the increasingly changing ecological environment has led to a sharp decline in the wild toad population, and in addition, people in many areas of the country have long had the habit of eating toad meat, and even regard toad meat as frog meat. Toad dishes in restaurants are increasingly popular, and the prices are not low. Therefore, toad medicinal material products are on the verge of exhaustion, making it very difficult in some areas to catch toads used for authentic Chinese medicinal materials.
Therefore, artificial toad breeding has emerged in some places, and the technology has also become more mature. The most critical thing in artificial toad breeding is to do a good job at the overwintering stage. Toads are variable-temperature amphibians and reptiles, and they enter hibernation before winter arrives each year. In nature, most toads crawl into water to overwinter, such as in rivers, lakes, ponds and puddles, while a few burrow into the soil to overwinter. Most toads bred by people overwinter in ponds. This overwintering method requires a lot of work and expense, and it is not easy to carry out in water-scarce areas and mountainous areas. The author has 15 years of experience in toad breeding. After many years of experiments, it was found that toads can completely overwinter on dry land. As long as the conditions are met, they can pass through winter very safely, and can even achieve a 100 percent survival rate. The method is also simple and easy to carry out. The specific steps are:
You can use idle miscellaneous land, wasteland, hillsides and other areas in front of or behind the house, and it is best to choose a sunny spot. Plow the land to a depth of about 20 cm, and in northern regions make it deeper. In the plowed land, dig several drainage ditches horizontally and vertically.
To prevent the toads from escaping after being released and after waking from hibernation in early spring, the overwintering site must be enclosed with relatively thick plastic film. Plastic film with a width of 80 cm can be used to enclose the plowed land, and the length depends on the perimeter of the land. Bury the lower edge of the plastic film about 20 cm into the soil, leave about 60 cm above ground, and then prop up the above-ground part of the plastic film with bamboo or wooden sticks to form an escape-proof wall. Because the plastic film is relatively smooth, toads will not jump high and cannot crawl out. The joints of the plastic film should be firmly taped. Generally, it can be used for 3 years to 5 years.
On the enclosed land, release about 10 toads per square meter and let them burrow into the loosened soil on their own to overwinter. Within 2 days to 3 days after release, the toads successively burrow into the soil, and then cover them with some rice straw, dry grass or stalks, so as to prevent the soil from cracking too much after long-term sun exposure or drought and causing the toads to die from sun exposure or drying out, and also to prevent heavy rain from causing soil compaction. Keeping the soil slightly moist is very safe. Generally, there is no problem if there is drought for one month. If it is too dry, sprinkle some water. If there is long-term rainy weather, prevent water accumulation, so as not to cause the toads in the soil to suffocate and die.
This overwintering method is simple and easy to carry out, can be implemented in all places according to local conditions, and generally there are no natural enemies attacking in winter.