A Marco Island homeowner had the catch of a lifetime Sunday evening following heavy rainstorms, removing a Cane Toad that appears to be nearly a foot long. The toxic amphibian was found in the area of Bald Eagle Drive and Hartley Street, according to the homeowner.
"That's a big toad. That's a big toad. I've seen some pictures of pretty large ones that have come out of Australia, but I've never seen one that size," said Melinda Schuman, a biologist at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida with a specialization in Cane Toad research.
Cane Toads are an invasive species that was introduced to Florida more than a generation ago to fight cane beetles, which were destroying sugar cane crops, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC). It is unclear how many Cane Toads exist in Southwest Florida.
"The problem with cane toads is that they are toxic. They have parotid glands on their shoulder regions, and these contain a Bufotoxin. If any animal attacks the cane toads, whether that's wildlife or pets, they can be poisoned by them and they can die pretty quickly," added Schuman.
Cane Toads are attracted to wet, humid climates, and are typically more active during the rainy season, according to FWC.
"With the rainy weather, they should expect to see more cane toads, obviously, especially at night. During the day, they're going to see the tadpoles in any flooded area, ponds, canals, any of the rivers, even," said Seth Brattain, the owner of SlethReptiles, an invasive species removal service.
The toxic amphibians typically impact pets, as the slow-moving toads are an easy target for dogs. If your animal comes in contact with a Cane Toad, attempt to wash its mouth out with a house, and then contact a veterinarian as soon as possible.