Also known as Bufo Toads or Giant Toads these critters are a real pest. This is the largest of the frogs and toads found in Florida. The toad is not native to the United States. It was originally released in sugar cane fields to help control “white grub” larvae. It became established in southern Florida after an accidental release of around 100 toads from the stock of a pet dealer at Miami airport in 1955.
These toads will eat all types of native frogs and toads and have been known to eat pet food.
Melinda Schuman, an expert on frogs and toads who works at the Conservancy of SW FL states that cane toads hide during the day and only come out after dark. One female can lay 30,000 eggs. They are harmless to humans, however they pose a fatal threat to our small pets.
If a dog or cat grabs a cane toad, the toad exudes a milky toxin from glands on its neck region. That toxin causes immediate frothing in the mouth, copious salivating and neurological damage.
Symptoms of Giant Toad poisoning in pets include drooling, head-shaking, crying, loss of coordination, and, in more serious cases, convulsions. The dog’s (or cat’s) gums often turn red, an indicator used by veterinarians to distinguish toad poisoning from epilepsy. For this reason, pet owners should be familiar with their pet’s normal gum color. Treatment: If you suspect toad poisoning, get a hose and run water in the side of the dog’s/cat’s mouth, pointing the animal’s head downward so water isn’t swallowed. Rub the gums and mouth to remove the toxin. This treatment is usually successful, but call your veterinarian immediately.
Help prevent injury to your pets:
1. Supervise your pets during outside time. This is hard since we like to let the dogs out to play by themselves or play while we make dinner or do household chores.
2.Always have your dog on a short leash. Do not allow it to be nosing around shrubs, bushes and hedges—that is where the cane toads hide during the day. You can’t see them but your dog can smell them and trying to investigate could prove to be fatal.
3.When you walk your dog after dark, always have a flashlight with you and inspect the grass for large dark forms. The cane toads look like lawn ornaments.
4.If you see any kind of toad, do not allow your dog to get close to it, sniff it or bite it.
5.Keep your outdoor pet bowls empty at night.
Cane toads can be found everywhere, but they are especially drawn to lights at night. They do present an ecological issue and the population needs to be controlled and, ideally, eradicated. We really need to properly identify the toads and then humanely euthanize them.
Cane toads are usually reddish-brown or graying-brown in color, range from 6-9 inches in size and have a yellow belly. Jennifer Southall is a Naples resident who loves reptiles and amphibians, writes educational features and is an artist. Her mission is to generate public interest in this issue and galvanize people and communities to work towards recognizing and hopefully resolving the problem of the toads. She hates to have to kill the animals, but understands they are an invasive species and must be controlled. She uses lidocaine sunburn spray to euthanize the toad, then puts them into a Ziploc bag and puts them in the freezer before disposal. She suggests people trim their bushes and clean up any clutter around the exterior of their homes since the toads are attracted to cool dark places.
For more information on the Cane Toad click below:
Cane Toad Florida Invasive Species