Florida is host to a variety of invasive species, largely thanks to its history in the exotic pet trade.
However, there’s one amphibian you may want to keep an eye out for, as it could prove dangerous.
Recommended Videos
That’s the cane toad — also dubbed the “Bufo” toad — which was originally brought to Florida in the 1930s as part of a pest control program, according to the UF/IFAS.
At the time, cane toads were used to eat beetles threatening sugar cane crops in the state, though the initial population didn’t survive this attempt.
Instead, around 100 of these toads were released into the wild by a pet importer at the Miami airport in the 1950s. Alongside similar incidents in other parts of South Florida, this incident sparked the rise of the cane toad population statewide, researchers explained.
Nowadays, experts say that cane toads are largely found in South Florida, with populations reaching into the Polk County portion of Central Florida.
However, there’s also an isolated group of these toads that’s been established in DeLand, strangely enough.
[BELOW: Florida Wildlife Ecologist Dr. Steve Johnson shows how to identify cane toads]
But while these toads may not appear imposing, they can be a major health risk for those caught unaware.
That’s because cane toads are highly toxic, which can sicken or even kill animals that try to get a taste. As such, state officials caution pet owners to keep their animals away from these amphibians.
“The skin secretions may irritate the skin or burn the eyes of people who handle them,” FWC officials report. “Cane toad eggs also contain bufotoxin and can harm or kill native animals that consume them.”
If a pet bites or swallows a cane toad, FWC officials warn that the animal could get sick and die as soon as 15 minutes afterward if it goes without proper treatment.
Symptoms can include frantic or disoriented behavior, brick-red gums, seizures and foaming at the mouth.
Owners who spot these symptoms are urged to wash the toxins out of the mouth with a hose for ten minutes while being careful not to send water down the pet’s throat.
Afterward, owners should wipe the gums and the animal’s tongue with a dish towel to remove toxins before getting the pet to a veterinarian’s office.
Despite its toxicity, it’s actually legal to own a cane toad as a pet in Florida, just so long as you don’t release it into the wild.
That being said, homeowners who find cane toads on their property are also allowed to remove and humanely kill them. To do so, it’s encouraged to wear eye and skin protection, as well as latex or rubber gloves.
“It is also very important to make sure that you have properly identified the animal as a cane toad and not a native southern toad, which is a beneficial part of the Florida ecosystem,” FWC officials caution.
Homeowners can also take the following steps to dissuade cane toads from coming onto their property:
- Remove places where cane toads or their prey can hide
- Cut grass regularly and keep it short
- Fill in any holes around structures
- Trim the underside of shrubs
- Keep branches off the ground
- Clear away brush piles
- Remove clutter
- Remove food that can attract cane toads and their prey
- Feed pets indoors when possible
- Bring outdoor pet food and water bowls indoors at night
- Clean up any food scraps from pet bowls or outside areas
For more information on cane toads and how to handle them, visit the FWC’s website here.