Cane toad population on the rise; why they are dangerous

The poisonous cane toads population is on the rise in Southwest Florida.

These toads hide in plain sight, in mulch and under bushes but the toxic cane toads can’t escape Scott Flavelle’s quick hands.

When the sun goes down, Flavelle with Scott’s Animal Services jumps into action with his flashlight to catch these toads.

15 minutes is how long it takes for an adult cane toad’s toxin to kill an average-sized dog.

While catching the toads, Flavelle only uses his bare hands, this is because cane toads are only deadly towards pets.

“When they get mad they secrete it out that’s the bufo toxin that if your dog or cat gets the toad in its mouth. But that’s what could possibly kill your dog or your cat. Or any animal that eats it,” Flavelle said.

And in the last five years, it seems the toxic toad population has exploded here in Fort Myers and across Southwest Florida.

Win Everham, FGCU Professor of Ecology and Environmental Studies said, “As we often have, we have a problem with species, we bring in a species from someplace else, and the solution becomes a new problem.”

This species is not only an invasive animal, it is also dangerous to our ecosystem.

“The problem with exotic species is that they eventually become explosively dominant on their landscape. And when you have too much of anything, it’s a problem.” Everham said, “They negatively impact our frog species. Our frog species are depressed.”

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