Help - toad screaming in the sofa! AIBU to call DH to come home?

[Aquablu]

I know this sounds dramatic, but AIBU? I have a phobia of frogs and toads. I can and have dealt with the odd stray mouse but amphibians - no.

On Friday, I was on the house in my own and I heard what I thought was the kitchen back door creaking on its hinges, but it was a weird noise. I went in there, only to find a massive toad in the middle of the floor. I just froze - I can't even bring myself to look the things! It was making this unearthly squeaking noise and the cat seemed scared of it.

I was late for a wax appt, so I just went and shut it in the kitchen, leaving the back door open and put the cat in the front part of the house so he couldn't get to it.

I also thought I heard a kind of croaking like an echo coming from the living room, but I had to go.

When I came back the thing had gone thank god. There is nowhere it can hide in the kitchen. The dishwasher and cupboards were shut, so it must have hopped outside. DD's Nintendo DS sometimes makes weird noises, so I thought the other noise in the living room must have been that vibrating or some kind of alarm.

We've been away for the weekend, but today, to my horror, there is the same screaming sound coming from the sofa in the living room! There must be a toad in there that was calling to the one on Friday in the way they do across ponds. I can't bring myself to pull the cushions off in case it jumps! It could have been lying flat for god knows how long.

AIBU to call DH to come back from work asap to get the toad out? He's meant to be going to the airport at 4pm, then he's away until Fri. I can't live like this until then! AIBU or is that too ridiculous? I can't ask the neighbours.

[Runny]

You don't need to live near water to get frogs or toads, we had a toad in our garden a while back and we're nowhere near a river or pond.

[ZeroFuchsGiven]

I have no water at all near me yet have had 2 huge toads in my garden over the last 2 weeks. One of the was about 2 foot underground and jumped out when we were digging a hole for a fence post. The other was laid flat as a pancake under a concrete slab.

[TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge]

If it's a toad it will have gone underneath and potentially crawled in, at most. It won't have been able to jump onto the sofa and get in that way.

Awesome though. I love frogs and toads, preferring frogs as they just look so funny hopping and swimming.

And of course they have bones!!!!

[angelnix]

Oh god, you have my full sympathy, I have a ridiculous fear of roads and frogs. I would definitely call my husband home to deal with it.

[UntilTheCowsComeHome]

I must say it's quite reassuring to find out there's a fair few of us with frog/toad phobias.

I always get laughed at by family and friends. I squeal and hide my face when that Bud light advert comes on much to my DCs amusement.

I really feel for you OP, this is one of the reasons I won't let us get a cat. Rats or mice I could deal with, frogs? No fucking way.

[Southwaite]

Nope. Nope. Nope.

I'd move out till it was gone tbh.

I don't even have a phobia. The idea of it screaming is just 😷😷😷

[Rufus27]

If you live near me (Westcountry) I will willingly come round and take it safely to a pond. Our cats bring in at least one a week (one jumped out of the toy box yesterday!). I love them - but was petrified when he cat came in with a live snake, so I understand your fear.

[user1496484020]

I'd have had a heart attack by now. When is DH going to get to the rescue?

[Rufus27]

Sorry OP, just seen you're in London area.

[Aquablu]

Thanks Rufus, but DH is getting a cab. I've shut the doors and am upstairs with the cat who is asleep and didn't seem bothered by the noise at all It sounds like the frog has gone quiet now.

[FairNotFair]

Have just RTFT and now I feel cold all over
You have a lovely sofa, OP and it will be nice to have the photo to remember it by after you've burned it

[MadisonAvenue]

Rufus the snake would be my worst nightmare. There are certain places near to me, in the Midlands, where there's a very good chance of seeing a grass snake or an adder so I can only walk the dog there in the Winter.

OP, a toad jumped out from behind a pot which I picked up to move by the front doorstep. I screamed, dropped the pot and quickly shut the door. I made my husband check everywhere in case it had got in the house while I panicked.

[Tippitoesandbuttonnose]

Oh I have to know how this ends 😂

[SirVixofVixHall]

They only scream when they are hurt, I think it must be trapped/squashed? Oh and of course they have bones, they can't go flat as a pancake, that is nonsense. I really hope someone can rescue it soon, poor creature must be really in pain to scream.

[SirVixofVixHall]

Why are so many people afraid of toads? I'm surprised.

[Babyiwantabump]

They scream?

That is horrifying all on its own.

[StuckInnaVanTrump]

I would be tempted to get a needle and poke the little shit.

[Aquablu]

This is how useless the cat is!

[MothQuandary]

Please make sure to get a photo of the flat toad, once DH has retrieved it, so we can all have a gawp.

[Southwaite]

Just looked up toad screaming on YouTube. Absolutely bizarre.

[Tippitoesandbuttonnose]

Yes we want pictures OP!

[PointlessUsername]

Hoping DH catches it quick.

I imagine you will still have the heebie jeebies sitting on the sofa from now on though.

[Aquablu]

Sorry this

[sanitygirl]

Back when I had a house with a garden and a cat, my cat used to bring frogs in. Usually they were still alive and I'd be able to get them out the back door, but I did once find a squashed, desiccated frog under the sofa cushion. Fortunately if it screamed, I didn't hear it.

[123rd]

I know phobias are irrational and it's horrible but I like toads & frogs. It's probably wishing it was by the pond now too!