In Philadelphia, "When Did The Toad Cross The Road" Is Almost More Important Than "Why"
The annual road-crossing migration of hundreds of toads from their normal habitats to the ponds where they breed in the Philadelphia neighborhood of Roxborough came early this year, and the off schedule resulted in quite a bit of toad carnage — the area's Toad Detour that is set up annually had yet to be erected. A sad story — but one with a happy ending that came this week: "Saturday, Sunday, and Monday evenings saw an average of 2,000 toadlets crossing Port Royal towards the woods at the Schuylkill Center. Most crossed between Hagy's Mill and Eva Street," according to the official blog set up to chronicle the toads' street-crossing. (Niche media will save us all, eh.) And look at how tiny those things are — "more like insects," according to one of the toadologists! That is a fingernail that baby toad is standing on! May it ribbit its way across the road next spring without having to get past any barreling trucks.
Poor toads. I just want to shovel them up and toss them to safety. Where they will probably be eaten by birds and snakes and toothless frog giggers.
I hear JFK has to deal with turtle migration during turtle mating season.
I don't know when turtle mating season is.
And I mean JFK Airport. Not the actual JFK. Unless there's something about gravesites someone is not talking about.
Roxborough on The Awl? My fatherland! Grandfather land,really. He's an asshole. I used to drive through here to get to Manayunk, which don't even ask. Once, when my fiance left me for her new boyfriend, I drove around Roxborough looking for her car at his apartment in the middle of the night. Also, The Ridge. Am I right?
Indeed. My wife has family there, too. They are not assholes, though. But the neighbors are!
To be fair, Philadelphians have really big fingernails. I should know — I'VE WRITTEN THIS ENTIRE POST ON MY PINKYNAIL!!!!