Most Toads and Frogs are Beneficial, but Beware of the Cane Toad

Most frogs you’re likely to encounter in your south Florida yard are as harmless as that most famous amphibian, Kermit. In fact, many are beneficial, as they feed on insects such as mosquitoes. However, one particular species of frogs well known to experienced pest control contractors presents a threat: Bufo Marinus, better known as the cane toad.

A native of Central and South America, cane toads were first imported into Florida in the 1930s in an attempt to protect agricultural fields from certain insects. A subsequent accidental release in the Miami area in the 1950s thrived, and the species has now made a home in the Sunshine State. Cane toads are distinguished from native frogs by brown coloration and significantly larger size — some females exceed 6 inches in length.

Another distinguishing feature is the fact that the cane toad produces toxic venom. Though it doesn’t normally pose a threat to humans through toxic bites, the venom can prove fatal to any predators that might eat them, including household pets like your dogs and cats.

Cane toads breed anywhere there’s sufficient standing water such as ponds, marshes and canals. The best method to avoid attracting cane toads to your yard is to reduce the availability of food they prefer. However, this can be difficult, as cane toads have a widely varying appetite. Outdoor pet food leftovers, accessible garbage scraps and rotting garden vegetables, to name just a few, all attract the omnivorous cane toad.

Once cane toads are sighted, one of the common control strategies is trapping and removing toads. A pest control professional can evaluate your property and employ the best methods for capturing cane toads. In most cases, trapped toads are humanely euthanized and their bodies are properly disposed of so pets and other animals won’t be endangered by ingesting the remains.

Haggerty Pest Service offers south Florida homeowners over 30 years of pest control expertise to keep your home and landscape pest-free. Ask us about your options if you’re experiencing a cane toad problem on your property.