Since You Asked: Why the toad overload at Marysville lake?

Q: Over the last week or so, my front and back yards on East Lake Court in Marysville have been crawling and hopping with dozens and dozens of either little toads or frogs. They all have a thin white line down their backs. I've lived here six years and haven't seen anything like this before. Is this normal?

A: No, not normal. But neither is this plague of toads a sign that the world is coming to an end. East Marysville is probably an unlikely place for that to start.

You may remember about a year ago when a flock of pelicans showed up and started shoveling up East Lake fish with those big beaks of theirs. Then the lake pretty much dried up during the second year of the current drought, ensuring there would be no fish left this year.

Once the lake filled up again, the stage was set for the appearance this year of the Western toad. They're land creatures but lay their eggs in water, said state Department of Fish and Game wildlife biologist Dale Whitmore.

With no fish left to eat the eggs, the toads had a reproductive heyday. The newly hatched toads, not even the size of a dime, began exploring the neighborhood — including your backyard. Some jumped off the curb onto Yolo Street and — being tiny — couldn't make it back up when it was time to go home. Those black things you see in the gutter are their desiccated little bodies, said Whitmore.

Now, some people might be horrified to open their back door an see their yard is moving, especially those who suffer from bufonophobia — fear of toads, said Whitmore.

But, Whitmore pointed out, you can't catch warts from a toad. And toads eat insects, he said.

So, if you don't get the West Nile virus this year from a mosquito, thank a toad.

Fully grown, the toads reach a length of about 4 inches, said Whitmore.

That could be a little creepy if they're still around in their present numbers. Some birds have discovered the good eatin' in East Marysville, but not enough to put a much of a dent in the toad army, he said.

Whitmore predicted the lake will dry up again this summer, the third year of the drought.

That could mean loads of toads again next year. Plenty of time to look for toad recipes.

Q: Recently a sound wall and nice landscaping was done on the east side of Highway 99 just south of Lincoln Road in Yuba City. I notice that the landscaping is slowly turning into a major weed patch. Instead of an attractive entrance to the south end of town, we now have an embarrassing eyesore exposed to a lot of travelers through our area. If the state or county cannot afford to tackle this concern, do we have to organize a volunteer crew to get it done?

A: Caltrans built the wall and is responsible for maintaining the landscaping. Kari Ehrman, spokeswoman for the Caltrans office in Marysville, said the weeds have been sprayed, but the spray needs time to take effect. The dead weeds will be removed Saturday, she said.

Since You Asked is published Tuesdays. Send questions to reporter Rob Young at the Appeal-Democrat, P.O. Box 431, Marysville CA 95901, email him at ryoung@appealdemocrat.com or call 749-4710.