Giant, Poisonous Toads Pose Continued Threat in Florida

Tampa Bay area dog owners are being warned to exercise caution when they take their four-legged companions out for walks.

Bufo toads, large nonnative creatures, also known as cane and marine toads, remain highly active even as summer comes to a close, local veterinarians say. The toads are known to secrete a neurotoxin that can prove fatal to animals and that can sicken humans.

A recent encounter in the Valrico area serves as a reminder about the toads’ potential presence in area backyards while illustrating the importance of fast medical intervention should exposure occur, BluePearl Veterinary Partners staff members say.

The Valrico case unfolded Sunday when a resident let her dog out to play in the yard, Fox 13 reported. It didn’t take long for owner Debbie Wahlstrom to notice something was wrong with her beloved Barkley. On the way to the vet, the dog began having seizures.

While no antitoxin is available to combat the toads’ secretions, veterinarians are often able to save animals by providing supportive care, BluePearl’s Dr. Brittany Jager told Patch.

“They can be treated pretty successfully,” she explained.

Symptoms of exposure generally begin with a dog displaying signs of a mouth irritation, she said. From there, the dog might start drooling and pawing at its face.

“They seem very irritated and often start vomiting,” she said. After that, dog’s typically fall over, start twitching and may suffer seizures as the neurotoxin takes hold.

The seizures and possible cardiac side effects from the neurotoxin can prove deadly for dogs, Jager said.

Cats, she noted, tend to avoid contact with bufo toads. The reason is not clear.

Nonnative Invaders Have Taken Root in Florida

Bufo toads are found throughout the Tampa Bay area and in other parts of south and southwest Florida, according to the state’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. These toads, indigenous to South America’s Amazon Basin, are also found naturally in South Texas.

Giant toads began appearing in Florida decades ago and have since made their way to many Bay area counties, including Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas. The biggest bufo toad on record measured in at 9.4 inches. The average “giant toad,” however, is about 7 inches long, the state notes on its website.

There are plenty of reasons to be mindful of this invasive species, Lisa Thompson, spokeswoman for the fish and wildlife conservation commission explained.

They pose a threat to pets and people alike courtesy of the large paratoid glands on their neck that release a toxic substance, she said.

“When pets try to lick or pick up the toads in their mouths, the toads secrete the poison in defense,” Thompson noted. “The skin-gland secretions are highly toxic and can sicken or even kill animals that bite or feed on the toads, including dogs, cats and native mammals, birds and snakes.”

That poison can also cause irritation to people’s skin, as well, so experts recommend avoiding contact with bare hands.

Protecting Pets

Jager says BluePearl alone sees about a dog a day this time of year that displays symptoms of bufo toad exposure. Some days are worse than others.

“Dogs have a pretty strong prey drive,” she said, explaining their propensity to attack the creatures and try to pick them up in their mouths.

To help avoid potential encounters, Jager recommends keeping dogs inside during the early morning and dusk hours when the toads are more active. If outdoor trips are necessary at these hours, she said pet owners should keep their dogs on leashes. Close supervision in backyards is also important.

Like it or not, bufo toads are in Florida and the Tampa Bay area in abundance, she added. And, since “we can’t get rid of them,” avoiding exposure is the best plan.

The toads tend to become highly active during the springtime and remain so through the warm summer months, wildlife officials have said.

To learn more about this invasive species, visit FWC online or the University of Florida Wildlife Extension.

Have you encountered giant toads? Tell us about it by commenting below!

Photo courtesy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission