Toxic toads that can kill pets in minutes are breeding in Florida

The toads are currently found in central and south Florida, generally south of the I-4 corridor.

by Katlyn Brieskorn | Mar. 28, 2024

Story at a glance

Thousands of invasive amphibians known as bufo toads, cane toads or giant marine toads are breeding in Florida.

Without proper treatment, your pet could die in as little as 15 minutes if it bites or swallows the large toads.

Cane toads were introduced into the state to control agricultural pests in sugar cane in the 1930s and 40s.

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Thousands of highly toxic toads dangerous to pets are breeding in Florida.

Without proper treatment, your pet could die in as little as 15 minutes if it bites or swallows the invasive amphibians known as bufo toads, cane toads or giant marine toads, officials say.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, cane toads were introduced into the state to control agricultural pests in sugar cane in the 1930s and 40s. Researchers believe current populations resulted from escapes and releases by importers in the 1950s and 60s.

The animals are also established in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa and the Republic of Palau, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The toads, ranging between 6 and 9 inches in length, release a milky toxin that sticks in pets’ mouths. The toxin causes pets to become frantic or disoriented, have brick-red gums, seizures and foaming at the mouth.

The toads are currently found in central and south Florida, generally south of the I-4 corridor, the FWC said.

Jennifer Southall, a seasoned bufo toad trapper, told WBBH that the toads have alarming reproductive capabilities.

“One bufo toad female can lay over 30,000 eggs at a time,” she told the news station. “And it takes just three days for the eggs to hatch, leading to a population explosion around the summer months.”

WBBH reported that dogs in particular are vulnerable to bufo toad poisoning, which can result in severe illness or death if left untreated.

Southall said her dog accidentally bit one.

“A toad had come in and he pounced on it,” she recalled. “He got sick, showing symptoms like vomiting and pawing at the mouth.”

Pets are not the only ones at risk. Bufo toad secretions can severely irritate people’s skin and eyes.

The FWC said you can humanely kill bufo toads. Southall explained that you should wear gloves and eye protection if you plan on catching them.

“These toads are poisonous at every stage in their life, including the eggs,” she said.

If your pet comes into contact with the toxic toad, here’s what you should do:

Wash toxins forward out of the mouth using a hose for 10 minutes being careful not to direct water down the throat.
Wipe gums/tongue with a dish towel to remove toxins.
Get your pet to the vet.

FILE- This March 29, 2009 file photo shows some of the thousands of cane toads caught by the residents of Cairns, Australia overnight and entered into the “Toad’s Day Out” program, awaiting euthanasia by freezing. (AP Photo/Brian Cassey, File)

FWC offered the following tips to keep you and your pets safe from encounters with the deadly amphibians:

Mow and trim your yard: Keep grass short so you can spot the toads. Bring the underside of shrubs off the ground to eliminate hiding places for the toads.
Clean up: Messes attract pests. Outdoor food and water bowls for pets, brush piles and other clutter can attract toads and their prey, which attracts toads.
Watch out: Cane toads are nocturnal, so watch your pets outside at night. Don’t allow your pets to nose around in bushes while on walks.

According to FWC, cane toads are native to southern Texas’ lower Rio Grande Valley and into the Amazon basin of South America.