Always provide some sort of exit for animals from a window well. Ill.: www.menards.com, www.homedepot.com & www.stickpng.com, montage: laidbackgardener.com
Last fall I was horrified to find a desiccated toad in my window well. Obviously, it had fallen in at some point over the summer and hadn’t been able to get out.
Not wanting to repeat the experience (toads are one of the gardener’s best friends!), I propped up a plank against the well wall at about a 45-degree angle for use as a toad ladder. You could do the same with a log or build a toad staircase of old bricks in one corner. Just be sure to provide something for them—and for other small animals—to escape!
I think this is such a thoughtful garden tip because small animals get stuck in places we barely notice. A simple plank, log, or little brick staircase can make the difference between a trap and an escape route. Toads are quiet garden helpers, eating insects and adding life to the yard in their own humble way. Window wells are useful for homes, especially with brands like silverline windows in mind, but they can become accidental pits for wildlife. I like solutions that are cheap, kind, and practical. Sometimes helping nature is just giving it a tiny ladder.
Good information…Thank you. I have 5 or 6 toads in every windowell. They are not getting water. Im afraid that if we don’t get them moving on thier way, they will die.
You could always catch them and move them yourself.
Yes, that is probably better than just leaving the window open for them.