Last night brought some unexpected excitement near my campsite here at Black Mesa State Park. As the sun began to set, I was outside photographing insects when I heard a commotion across the road. One of my neighbors was yelling, clearly upset, and another called out to me, asking if I had my camera. That was all the invitation I needed to investigate!
When I approached, I saw the source of the uproar: a large Garter Snake and an equally large Toad. The camper explained that the snake had chased the toad into their campsite, causing quite a stir. The toad, about 5 to 6 inches long and impressively wide, had clearly taken them by surprise. The one camper, in particular, was determined to protect the toad, going as far as throwing sticks at the snake to scare it away.
As I began photographing the scene, I quickly realized it was nearly impossible to capture both the snake and the toad in a single frame. The situation was tense, and I had to act quickly before the snake, deterred by the flying sticks, slithered away.
A Closer Look: Garter Snakes vs. Toads
While photographing, I couldn’t help but wonder how this snake planned to eat such a large toad. Garter snakes are fascinating creatures with a unique feeding mechanism that allows them to consume prey larger than their head. By unhinging their jaws, they can gradually swallow animals much bigger than you’d expect, like the sizable toad in this encounter.
Interestingly, garter snakes are known to prey on various amphibians, including toads and frogs. They’ve adapted to handle the toxins that toads produce, such as bufotoxin, which would deter most predators. However, even for a garter snake, consuming a large toad can be challenging. Toads have a clever defense mechanism—they can inflate their bodies, making it even more difficult for a predator to swallow them.
In some cases, snakes have been observed working to deflate an inflated toad before swallowing it. This process isn’t quick or easy, and it requires persistence from the snake. I can only imagine that the garter snake I encountered last night would have had its work cut out if it had managed to catch the toad.
A Lucky Escape
Fortunately for the toad, the snake decided to retreat under pressure from the concerned camper. As much as I love observing nature’s dramas unfold, I was relieved that the situation ended peacefully. It was a reminder of how resilient and resourceful both predator and prey can be in the wild.
Last night’s encounter added an unexpected twist to my evening and provided a unique opportunity to observe and photograph nature up close. It’s moments like these that make camping at Black Mesa State Park so memorable—there’s always something new and exciting around the corner. I’m eager to see what other surprises await as my adventure here continues!