Toads!

[naturegirl]

I'm picking up my daughter from kindergarten and this large toad (appx 5-6") comes hopping up to where the parents are standing. I nicely tried shooing him back to the grass, but he proceeded to keep on hopping toward the school. Women started jumping back and screaming and a man ran over and kicked the toad. The toad righted himself and started hopping right back to where the people were so I reached down, picked him up by his sides, and walked him as far away from the people as I could get and then let him go. I can't help but laugh, though, because it was kinda funny...

 

When I get back I hear some moms explaining that frogs are nice, which I agree with and explain at my house they eat the bugs that are outside. Then another mom asks me if this is one of those "dreaded Sonoran Toads." I said no, but then after the fact decided to Google it. Well I guess the toads we have here do look like the Sonoran Toad, but I'm no expert.

 

I've picked up frogs and toads up my entire life. I've never gotten a wart, never gotten sick, never gotten bit, etc. I happen to like them and don't really understand how a frog or toad can make people scream and jump around. I actually appreciate all of their hard work (free exterminating). On a side note, my lab was caught playing (mouthing and pawing) with one the other night and she had no symptoms.

 

Anyhow, I'm wondering if I misinformed the mom. The one below hangs around my house. Less bugs = less scorpions

 

 

 

 

[awatson]

Haha... I opened this thread, half expecting to see a picture of some big deer. You're talkin' actual TOADS!!

[mountaingoat08]

Dang this post got me excited also haha

[rcdinaz]

Me too!

 

Most of them can make you sick or at least rather your dog. I dont imagine you are planning on sucking on one anytime soon so you should be fine. I think you would have to eat one or carry it around in your mouth for quite a while like some dogs will before it would hurt you.

[Elkhunter1]

The Colorado River Toad is the one that can make your dog sick. That one doesn't look like the CRT. IMHO

[mr.smith]

I believe that is a Woodhouse's Toad.

[bigorange]

Just don't lick them and wah your hands after picking them up. And yeah Steve is right about the Colorado river toads and dogs. Gotta keep those away...can be bad news.

[naturegirl]

No pics of big deer. I usually can follow pretty good directions I do hope to be posting one of those later on in another forum.

 

It's not a Woodhouse frog, although I do know exactly which one that is although I didn't know it's name before today.

 

Not planning on any face-to-face time with one myself. The dog on the other hand, I'll work on her. She was trained once upon a time, but is a bit rusty.

 

Anyone know anybody or have a dog that was harmed/killed by a toad in Arizona?

[ylclaret]

We had a jack Russell terrier a few years ago that love the Toads. The first couple times it was kinda scary but I think he built up an immunity, a d an addiction! It's rain and the toads would come out and before you know here would come the dog all stiff legged with pupils dilated and high as a kite!

[Thegrayghost]

My dog died just 2 weeks ago from licking one of those things. I know it was neither the dos nor the toads fault but I just want to kill ever toad I see now

[Ernesto C]

My dog died just 2 weeks ago from licking one of those things. I know it was neither the dos nor the toads fault but I just want to kill ever toad I see now

LOL

[IA Born]

Whatever common name they go by now (Colorado River toad or Sonoran desert toad), that is definitely one of them (Bufo alvarius). The large glands on the legs are one of the most prominent defining characteristics. As a herpetologist who specialized in venom, I can assure you that, unless you have an allergic reaction, you will be ok. They might make a kid sick, but it shouldn't be much worse than a "normal" stomach bug. I've handled countless B. alvarius and have never been symptomatic. If you ever hear of people "licking toads" to get stoned, its the toxin (Bufo toxin) from this species. Its a hallucinogenic in humans. Pets are a very different story, though. Their toxin can be very lethal to pets, especially smaller ones. For those of you who have lost a pet from one, you have my deepest sympathies.

 

For that matter, all toads secret a toxin from their paratoid glands. Its part of their defense from predators. It just so happens that the Bufo toxin from B. alvarius is particularly toxic. Good luck and thanks for passing the message about their benefit (eating bugs, especially scorpions!).

[Antmo23]

My Aunt's dog got a hold of one recently, she couldn't use her hind legs for a few days. I just saw her Friday and she's back to her old goofy self(black lab).

[AZbowhntr]

One of the guys I golf with all the time has a little dog that has almost died twice because of them toads. He gets out the garden hose and washes out the dogs mouth for about 15 minutes. He said it was almost completely paralyzed.

[GotBowAz]

Right after the rains I kept finding turds about 2 inches long and maybe 3/8 to a half inch in diameter and on my back patio. At first I didn't know what it was, my dogs let nothing in the back yard without me finding it in pieces, except people and other dogs. I finally took the time to look a little closer and found insects including a scorpion in the turd. I figured it out after that. Guess the dogs have figured out toads are not something to mess with. I did find one in the pool skimmer, yuck!

 

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