What to do with toad in the (coal bunker) hole?

[BangGoesThatTheory]

Just spotted a brown toad in our outside concrete coal bunker with a hinged metal lid that is full of wood off-cuts from diy jobs. No coal in there anymore.

He/she looks healthy but no idea how it got in.

Realise toads hibernate but this one is definitely awake now.
Should we leave toad well alone to find its own way out, or fish him/her out into the garden?

[BangGoesThatTheory]

Can’t really leave the lid open because the wood would get soaked when it rains.

[Craftycorvid]

Congratulations on your toad. We have one in our cellar (which used to have a coal ‘hole’ so guess toad got in through the street-level hatch that would once have been where the coal got delivered). We leave the toad in peace and he seems perfectly fine. DH feeds him the odd slug, or other garden-unfriendly beastie, from time to time

[BangGoesThatTheory]

Thanks craftycorvid just wondering what he/she is surviving on. But guess there must be woodlice, etc.

How long have you had your toad?

[BangGoesThatTheory]

As in, what ours is surviving on among the wood.

[itsinchicago]

We have a toad somewhere in the garden. At the moment I have no idea where he/she is hiding though. Under the shed probably.

[Craftycorvid]

We have had various resident toads for years - one old chap used to potter about and follow DH when he was working in the cellar. They can survive without apparent harm for a long time with no obvious source of food. We think ours deals with the woodlice and other small insects.

[Honeyroar]

Can you open the coal hole at the bottom a tiny bit so it can get out if it is stuck?

[BangGoesThatTheory]

Will definitely try your idea Honeyroar and will then check again in a day or so to see if it has chosen freedom.

[Runningintothesunset]

We have two that live in our greenhouse Despite my concerns that they’re going to frazzle, they seem fine

[Goldenhedgehogs]

I am jealous of all your toads. I garden organically, dug a pond, made a toad house at a pottery club and have only ever had frogs and newts. Maybe I need a coal house. I love their eyes and remember them as a girl but since moving I have never seen one or hedgehogs in our garden 😕

[BangGoesThatTheory]

Update on toad in the coal hole.

Provided an escape route @Honeyroar by opening the bottom coal hatch by a few inches but he/she is still in residence.

Saw toad about an hour ago, looks perfectly happy. Love it’s amber coloured eyes @Goldenhedgehogs . Think it’s here to stay, hopefully, as have heard they bring good luck 😀

[BangGoesThatTheory]

oops, its amber eyes