Palm Beach Gardens neighborhood in Florida is being plagued by thousands of poisonous bufo toads. Residents in the infested suburb worry toxins secreted by the toads will harm their pets and children.
News stations broadcast images of the small toads clogging pool filters, hopping en masse across driveways and sidewalks, and lurking in landscaped lawns.
Bufo toads, also known as cane toads, can grow to be the size of a dinner plate and secrete toxins out of glands on the side of their heads. Those toxins can be incredibly poisonous if ingested, creating a threat for curious children and house pets.
Resident Jennifer Quasha reports her family first noticed the toads Friday. She said hundreds of them were in their swimming pool.
Mark Holladay of the pest removal service Toad Busters said that recent rains coupled with warm temperatures sent the amphibians into a breeding cycle.
Holladay said even more toads are likely to spread throughout South Florida in the coming weeks.
Cane toads are very dangerous! Be vigilant!
