Toad tadpoles begin life with black coloration but eventually lighten to a grey or brown colour. The development of the tadpoles is dependent on temperature and they become very small versions of their parents in the summer. From this point, the growth of the young is so rapid that they have either doubled or tripled in size by the fall. They all will hibernate for the winter and the growth process resumes immediately in the next year so that they will be at breeding size by spring. Once this breeding size has been reached, the toads will grow only slightly over the remaining years of their lives.
Growth rate seems to be dependent on the amount of food available for ingestion.
Toads consume insects and other invertebrates. The temperature of the area and the relative humidity are also important to a toad's life since damp, warm conditions are preferred. Unless it is the breeding season, toads are generally solitary animals. Should an individual find an appropriate location to make a home, it may remain in that particular place for the whole season, only coming out occasionally to find a meal. Toads will consume any type of invertebrate currently available.