Stop licking this toad!

[Randy]

The National Park Service wants humans to stop licking this toad

The Sonoran desert toad secretes a potent toxin that can make people sick. Despite the risks, some people have discovered that the toad's toxic secretions contain a powerful hallucinogenic.

www.npr.org

The National Park Service wants humans to stop licking this toad​

Go into almost any park and there's often reminders to refrain from going near, petting or feeding wildlife. Not licking strange animals was simply a given — until now.

The National Park Service has added tongue-contact with the Sonoran desert toad among its various warnings for park visitors.

"As we say with most things you come across in a national park, whether it be a banana slug, unfamiliar mushroom, or a large toad with glowing eyes in the dead of night, please refrain from licking," the agency wrote on Facebook this past week.

The toad, also known as the Colorado river toad, is about seven inches in size and carries a weak, low-pitched ribbit sound. But the creature is far from harmless. Sonoran desert toads secrete a potent toxin that can make people sick if they touch it or get the poison in their mouth, according to the National Park Service.

Despite the risks, some people have discovered that the toad's toxic secretions contain a powerful hallucinogenic known as 5-MeO-DMT.
In recent years, smoking the amphibian's secretions has grown in popularity — so much so that the species is even considered threatened at least in New Mexico due to "collectors that want to use the animal for drug use," according to the state's Department of Game & Fish.

​

A number of public figures have reported experimenting with the toad's extracted toxins. Boxing legend Mike Tyson has spoken about it, and some researchers have even begun to study it for its potential therapeutic benefits. President Biden's son, Hunter Biden, has written about using 5-MeO-DMT therapy as a form of addiction treatment.

Thoughts?

Would you ever lick a toad?

 

[duskpire]

I would go out & catch toads when I was a kid. I remember I was playing with one outside at the babysitter's house when her dog came over and picked it up in its mouth & started to violently shake it's head from side to side while making disturbing growling noises. The toad pissed in its mouth and as a result the dog's mouth had this white foam going everywhere. It dropped the toad and the baby sitter came out and had to rince it's mouth out with a water hose.

 

[PGen98]

 

[passenger]

I would go out & catch toads when I was a kid. I remember I was playing with one outside at the babysitter's house when her dog came over and picked it up in its mouth & started to violently shake it's head from side to side while making disturbing growling noises. The toad pissed in its mouth and as a result the dog's mouth had this white foam going everywhere. It dropped the toad and the baby sitter came out and had to rince it's mouth out with a water hose.

We used to have toads hop around on our patio at nite, probably to catch bugs attracted to the light; and I've often wondered why the dogs wouldn't chase, harass, or otherwise 'mess with' the toads and the toads did not seem to fear or avoid the dogs. But then one evening I saw exactly what you're describing; a dog went to pick one up & the toad's aim was precise! I just concluded that this was a natural defense mechanism; probably not the exact variety of toad this article is about.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Would you ever lick a toad?

I would go out & catch toads when I was a kid. I remember I was playing with one outside at the babysitter's house when her dog came over and picked it up in its mouth & started to violently shake it's head from side to side while making disturbing growling noises. The toad pissed in its mouth and as a result the dog's mouth had this white foam going everywhere. It dropped the toad and the baby sitter came out and had to rince it's mouth out with a water hose.

We used to have toads hop around on our patio at nite, probably to catch bugs attracted to the light; and I've often wondered why the dogs wouldn't chase, harass, or otherwise 'mess with' the toads and the toads did not seem to fear or avoid the dogs. But then one evening I saw exactly what you're describing; a dog went to pick one up & the toad's aim was precise! I just concluded that this was a natural defense mechanism; probably not the exact variety of toad this article is about.

I seen the same thing once too. I had a caught a toad and was keeping it as a pet for a couple days. When I decided to let it go I went to let it go in a pond and a neighborhood dog was there to see it (he always followed me around). As soon as I put the toad in the water, the dog snatched it up and then freaked the F out. lol

Classic

 

[passenger]

Ever pick one up & have it pee on you? I have as a kid.....learned how to be careful HOW I picked them up.
I always thought it was so full that I caused it to pee. Not until I saw the incident with the dog that figured out (I think) what the real reason was.

 

[duskpire]

I seen the same thing once too. I had a caught a toad and was keeping it as a pet for a couple days. When I decided to let it go I went to let it go in a pond and a neighborhood dog was there to see it (he always followed me around). As soon as I put the toad in the water, the dog snatched it up and then freaked the F out. lol

Toad's have a toxin in their skin and in their urine. It inflames the dog's mouth on contact. Not good for the dog I'd say.

Toad Poisoning in Dogs | VCA Animal Hospitals

Learn all you need to know about toad poisoning in dogs with VCA. Get expert advice from VCA Animal Hospitals to keep your pet healthy and happy.

vcahospitals.com

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Toad's have a toxin in their skin and in their urine. It inflames the dog's mouth on contact. Not good for the dog I'd say.

Toad Poisoning in Dogs | VCA Animal Hospitals

Learn all you need to know about toad poisoning in dogs with VCA. Get expert advice from VCA Animal Hospitals to keep your pet healthy and happy.

vcahospitals.com

Yeah not good at all, however that dog was fine when I saw him the next time. Just not that afternoon when he snatched up that frog.

 

[duskpire]

Yeah not good at all, however that dog was fine when I saw him the next time. Just not that afternoon when he snatched up that frog.

Speaking of toads. Did you know there's a Cane Toad crisis in Australia? There's been mass crocodile deaths because they're super venomous. The Cane Toad is originally from Hawaii and was brought over because farmers thought it would fix their pest problem. Sad to say it only added to it.

 

[passenger]

"Invasive species".....plants or animals; we have many of those here (U.S.) & maybe they seemed like a good idea to the 'scientists' who had the 'bright idea' , but have not worked out in the long run. Or worked out too well, upsetting the natural balance, like these Cane Toads.

 

[Uncrowned]

I oddly feel like toad licking is a better "poor idea" than many others that people try to get high. So I suppose it is okay? it would be better to know if the toad enjoyed it or not, I'd assume not.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Speaking of toads. Did you know there's a Cane Toad crisis in Australia? There's been mass crocodile deaths because they're super venomous. The Cane Toad is originally from Hawaii and was brought over because farmers thought it would fix their pest problem. Sad to say it only added to it.

Didn't hear about that, crazy though!

"Invasive species".....plants or animals; we have many of those here (U.S.) & maybe they seemed like a good idea to the 'scientists' who had the 'bright idea' , but have not worked out in the long run. Or worked out too well, upsetting the natural balance, like these Cane Toads.

Humans are the invasive species!

I oddly feel like toad licking is a better "poor idea" than many others that people try to get high. So I suppose it is okay? it would be better to know if the toad enjoyed it or not, I'd assume not.

At least buy the toad a drink first!

 

[duskpire]

Didn't hear about that, crazy though!

Humans are the invasive species!

At least buy the toad a drink first!

I've licked toads before when I was a little kid. Didn't know they were toxic. Yikes.

 

[passenger]

I've licked toads before when I was a little kid. Didn't know they were toxic. Yikes.

UCK! I've had them pee on my hand & Mama said, "That's why you have warts on your hand! " but I NEVER licked one.

 

[duskpire]

UCK! I've had them pee on my hand & Mama said, "That's why you have warts on your hand! " but I NEVER licked one.

lol heard that one too. Can't get warts from toads. That's an old dark age superstition from when people started learning about the spread of disease.