Poisonous Toad Invasion Hits Upscale Florida Community

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL -- A mild winter and fewer predators than normal have created the perfect storm in one upscale South Florida community to bring on an epic invasion of reddish-brown and grayish-brown toads with enlarged glands behind their eyes that secrete a milky-white poison.

"You can't really walk without stepping on them," observed high school teacher and herpetologist Jeannine Tilford, who started a business called Toad Busters to combat the slimy nuisances.

From the pictures and videos, you'd think the toads had taken over the Mirabella neighborhood of Palm Beach Gardens, which is located about 73 miles from Miami. Palm Beach Gardens is better known as home to tennis greats Venus and Serena Williams.

"I'm worried about people's pets, so there's definitely no swimming in the pool or playing outside and enjoying the outdoors," Mirabella resident Jennie Quasha told WPTV in West Palm Beach. She shared photos showing hundreds and possibly thousands of toads in her neighborhood.

The city's Candice Temple told Patch she is not aware of the toad problem being as severe in other parts of Palm Beach Gardens though they are a common nuisance for homeowners throughout south and central Florida. They are of particular concern because they can be deadly to dogs and cats that lick their skin or try to eat them.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission describes the menace as a nonnative amphibian that was first spotted in 1936. The toads are known by the names cane toads, bufo, giant or marine toads.

"It is not uncommon to see large concentrations of this species in South Florida," said Jamie Clift Rager of FWC. "Fortunately, this species is not commonly reported north of Interstate 4." Click here to see a map of confirmed sightings in Florida.

They grow to about 6 to 9 inches in length and are sometimes confused with native southern toads but are distinguished by the lack of ridges across their heads.

"The FWC encourages landowners to kill cane toads on their own property whenever possible," Rager added. "Cane toads are not protected in Florida except by anti-cruelty law and can be removed from private property year-round with landowner permission. Wear latex or rubber gloves to safely handle cane toads. Captured cane toads may not be relocated and released."

Tilford said their numbers exploded in the Palm Beach Gardens neighborhood because there were fewer fish this year in a nearby pond to eat their eggs before they got to land.

"The babies are born in large quantities and once they leave the water they go up on land and it becomes this craziness as far as babies everywhere," explained Tilford, who teaches environmental science at Palm Beach Gardens High School. "Where some of the tadpole eggs wouldn't have hatched and some of the tadpoles might not have made it, they all probably hatched and made it. And, we also didn't get a winter so we have more breeding than normal."

Watch WPTV video of the baby toads below:

Tilford said residents of the affected neighborhood should begin seeing fewer toads once they move into the grass.

"They're not going to go away. They're going to move into the lawns so they're not going to be seen as much," said Tilford. "In about another month, I'll be getting phone calls because the toads will be coming out and feeding in large amounts around the garages and lighted areas."

She said toads are more active at night so that's when toad busters gets to work. "We actually go out and collect them by hand," she said. "We come out at nighttime when the toads are out eating."

Toad Busters targets adult toads.

"Over time if you remove large quantities of adults you have less adults breeding," Tilford explained. "It's never going to go away. They breed too rampantly, and we're looking at thousands and thousands of them.

"But, in a lot of communities where I've taken these toads out, the native stuff starts to come back so there's a more natural balance to what's out there," she added. "So, instead of seeing 15 or 20 when they go outside they might see one or two."

If you live in an area with the toads, FWC suggests taking the following precautions:

• Cut your grass regularly and keep it short
• Fill in any holes around structures
• Trim the underside of shrubs
• Keep branches or other debris off the ground
• Clear away brush piles
• Remove clutter
• Remove food that can attract cane toads and their prey:
• Feed pets indoors when possible
• Bring outdoor pet food and water bowls indoors at night
• Clean up any food scraps from pet bowls or outside tables and grills.