Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. — A Florida suburb is being plagued by thousands of poisonous toads. Experts say the amphibians are a species known as bufo toads (aka cane toads). Residents in the infested Palm Beach Gardens neighborhood are deeply concerned about toxins secreted by the toads could harm their pets and children.
CBS affiliate WPEC-TV broadcast images of the small toads clogging pool filters, hopping en masse across driveways and sidewalks, and lurking in landscaped lawns.
“I just saw a massive amount of toads all over my property,” a homeowner told CBS Miami. “You can’t even walk through the grass without stepping on one; they’re covering people’s driveways.”
“It’s not hundreds, we’re talking thousands of these little baby frogs,” said resident Carollyn Rice.
Bufo or Cane Toads grow up to six inches frome head to tail (Photo: WPTV)
Jenni Quasha, a resident of Palm Beach Gardens, contacted her homeowner’s association, but says she was told it is her responsibility to handle the problem.
Mark Holladay of the pest removal service Toad Busters told WPTV that recent rains coupled with warm temperatures sent the amphibians into a unsual massive breeding cycle. Holladay said even more toads are likely to spread throughout South Florida in the coming weeks.
Source: WPTV Florida
