Finally caught the offending amphibian

Last summer, we lost our Dogue de Bordeaux to Cane or Bufo toad poisoning. Never did find the toad. A couple of months ago, I spotted in the dark what I thought was the toad, it was hugely large and very fast. I couldn't catch it after it went underneath the chicken coop. Well luck was on my side, and not the cane toad's, tonight. My daughter went out to empty the kitty litter box, and when she was walking back past the duck pens, she spotted a huge toad. She dropped the litter box over it and ran to get me. I scooped it up in a bucket, and brought it up to the house to make darn sure it was in fact the cane toad I had been searching for. They're an invasive species here in Florida, so finding their identification site wasn't hard at all. Identified, I took some photos (the ones posted here) and then permanently disposed of the toad. I felt bad, but it was a necessary evil. Take a look at how big this thing is. They have glands that excrete highly poisonous toxins, all it takes is a dog to mouth the toad and it's fatal unless they receive quick and aggressive treatment.




You can see on the glands behind the eyes the white toxins (looks like white foam) the toad is excreting. Hence the need for gloves.


One less Bufo toad to worry about with the Pomeranians.

 

I'm trying to tell myself I don't feel bad about doing what I did to it. I've never killed anything larger than a fly on purpose before just to get rid of it. I was so tempted to take it out to the swamp and release it, but for the greater good, I just couldn't do it. So I'll feel guilty for a few days. That's life I guess. I just have to keep thinking what my poor dog suffered. And not letting it live to harm the Poms I still have or the other species of natural toads. The other day one of the pups was playing with a tree frog. That could have been the toad. So a big thank you for the understanding. And yes, I've been in Florida since Dec. '02, haven't in all this time seen one. Now I won't forget it, LOL.

 

Dogue de Bordeaux, aka French Mastiff, aka Turner & Hooch dog. I sure miss her.

Yes, I was concerned about getting the toxin on me, that's why I put the gloves on. It did "squirt" once, when I first tried to keep it from leaping out of my hand, thankfully it was at an extended arm's length.

We have a bunch of toads here, they come at in the evening. You have to watch where you walk so you don't step on them all. I found a bunch of normal american toads this morning early but no more cane toads. Thank gosh.