One benefit of creating and maintaining a backyard wildlife habitat is the inhabitants that make themselves right at home. The beds surrounding my deck are filled with shade- loving hostas. Slugs were devouring hosta leaves until a troupe of toads took up residence.

One large plump toad is very tame. This Southern toad, Bufo terrestris, identified by the pronounced cranial crests and parotoid glands above the goldrimmed eyes, appears to be mayor of the deck. He hops up the deck steps to reach a favorite flower pot in which to hide for most of the daylight hours. He does leave his underground bunker to skinny dip in the dog's water bowl, a habit Sasha, our Brittany, finds confusing and unnerving. Sasha tolerates toad only after tasting the unpalatable secretions released by the skin glands.

The toad hops across the surface of the deck floor with the agility and familiarity of Gene Kelly on the dance floor. The nightly toad patrol food forays must include much time on the deck. When he hops down the deck steps, he heads to a terra cotta toad abode that I made from a cracked flower pot and placed among the hostas in hopes of attracting toads.

The Southern toad can consume 100 garden insects per night. Toads are amphibians and as their name implies, they have lived two lives: a larval stage in water and an adult stage on land. As larvae they were herbivores. As adults they are carnivores. Although lethargic during daylight hours, toads become active predators at night consuming anything that moves and will fit in their mouths. The feeding frenzy includes insects like ants, crickets, moths, caterpillars, mosquitoes, and beetles. Spiders and other invertebrates like snails, slugs and earthworms appear on the menu too.

Some scientists estimate that one toad consumes 100 insects per night, a major contribution to reducing garden pests. Historically, toads were so essential to the success of European market gardens in the 19th and early 20th century, they were purchased by gardeners the way some buy pesticides today.

Although toads have received bad press due to associations with warts and witchcraft, the humble toad is a gardener's ally.

One simple toad abode is an over - turned f lowerpot with an entrance hole placed among shadeloving plants. How can you attract toads to your garden?

• A moist, shady area that is a problem zone can beckon toads. Add native, shade- loving plants and a layer of leaf mulch. The latter gives food, shelter, and moisture to toads.

• Recycle broken pots for toads. Chip out a doorway in the rim. Turn the pot upside down in a shady spot.

• Locate several shallow ceramic saucers in the shade and fill them with water. These toad spas allow them to stretch out and absorb water through the skin.

• Create a toad tunnel by laying a hollow log or ceramic pipe on its side partially buried in the earth.

• A rock pile makes a cool shady resting spot by day and secretive lookout for insects at night.

• Do not use chemicals like herbicides or insecticides in the garden. Toads are natural pest controls and indicators of the health of your environment.

Water is an essential part of an amphibian's habitat.