Watch out: Toxic cane toads are back on Treasure Coast after weeks of heavy rain

Maureen Kenyon | Treasure Coast Newspapers

Show Caption Hide Caption Video: Five of Florida's deadliest creatures The bufo toad secretes a toxic slime from its body when attacked. These toads were introduced by the agriculture industry in the 1950s and have since spread to Southwest Florida. Dogs are particularly at risk of poisoning from these toads as they will chase and catch them.

They're big, warty and secrete a milky poison that can be deadly to pets and toxic to humans, and because of recent heavy rains, they're becoming more active on the Treasure Coast.

In dry conditions, cane toads (Rhinella marina) — many people call them bufo toads — burrow underground and go into a hibernation state. Since May 13, however, the Treasure Coast has seen continuous rainfall, forcing the toads above ground to reproduce and lay eggs in any available freshwater habitat, including ponds (natural and manmade), lakes, canals and ditches.

Bottom line: the invasive toad is dangerous, so here are five things you need to know to protect yourself and your pets.

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What do they look like?

Honestly, cane toads are pretty gross.

They're tan to reddish-brown, dark brown or gray, and their backs are marked with dark spots, according to the University of Florida. They have warty skin.

Even more disgusting, cane toads have large, triangular parotoid glands on their shoulders that secrete a milky toxin. (Native toads' parotoid glands are oval.) Unlike native southern toads, cane toads do not have ridges or "crests" on top of the head.

Ken Gioeli, the University of Florida's natural resources extension agent for St. Lucie County, said it's important to accurately identify cane toads before disposing of them.

"With all this rain, the potential is there for many different types of tadpoles to grow," he said. "We have to worry about people misidentifying frogs."

Not-so-fun fact: Gioeli said even cane toad tadpoles are toxic.

The sheer size of a cane toad is the best indicator, Gioeli said, along with the triangular glands and lack of crests. Cane toads usually are between 4 to 6 inches, sometimes growing to 9½ inches. With very few exceptions, any toad in Florida that is larger than 4 inches is not native and almost certainly is an invasive cane toad, according to the University of Florida.

Another important characteristic, Gioeli said, is cane toads live on the ground; they don't like to climb.

Besides secreting a deadly toxin, a cane toad's chorus is grating, too.

Gioeli said he's heard complaints recently from people not sleeping well because of the cacophony of the amphibians.

If people are suffering from the noise, Gioeli recommends closing doors and windows at night and turning on fans.

"If you still can't get it quiet enough, put in ear plugs," he said. "These frogs are really loud."

[ Having trouble hearing the clip from the University of Florida? Click here to listen to the chorus of cane toads. ]

Where did they come from?

Cane toads are native to South and Central America and were introduced into Palm Beach County to control pests in sugar cane fields, according to the University of Florida.

Here, they can be found in Central and South Florida, including Key West and Stock Island, and in an isolated population in Bay County in the Panhandle. They live in urbanized habitats and agricultural lands, but also in some natural areas, including floodplain and mangrove swamps.

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What do they eat?

Cane toads prey on anything they can get into their mouths, according to the University of Florida, but they feed on beetles, centipedes, crabs, millipedes, roaches, scorpions, spiders and other invertebrates.

They also have been known to eat frogs, snakes, small reptiles, small birds and small mammals.

What if my dog bites one?

If a pet bites, licks or even sniffs a cane toad, it could become sick and, if not treated, it could die.

Symptoms of poisoning in pets include excessive drooling and extremely red gums, head-shaking, crying, loss of coordination and sometimes convulsions.

If a dog bites or comes in contact with a cane toad, Gioeli said to use a damp cloth or towel and wipe the inside of the dog's mouth to make sure no toxins were swallowed.

Do not flush the dog's mouth with a hose. It could send any toxins down the animal's throat.

Dogs should be taken to a veterinarian as soon as possible to treat for symptoms that could include seizures, heart problems such as arrhythmia and body temperatures that skyrocket and then plunge.

"Cane toads are pretty much here to stay," Gioeli said. "Residents need to get familiar with them and watch their dogs when they're outside."

Dog droppings also should be picked up; cane toads are attracted to proteins in the droppings.

Gioeli also recommends pets be fed indoors because "sanitation outside is extremely important" so cane toads are not attracted to the area.

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How do you kill them?

There is a humane way to get rid of cane toads.

Gioeli said the University of Florida recommends euthanizing them by rubbing or spraying 20 percent benzocaine toothache gel or sunburn spray (not 5 percent lidocaine) on the toad. In a few minutes, it will become unconscious.

Then, put the toad in a sealed plastic bag in the freezer for 24-48 hours to ensure it is humanely euthanized.

Then, once the toad is dead, dispose of it in the trash; do not bury it, Gioeli said.

But how do you catch the toad to do this?

Gioeli said the best trapping method is a net and a deep bucket with steep sides. Also, make sure to put a board or lid on top of the bucket.

"I hate talking about killing any animals, but they are dangerous to dogs, especially smaller ones," Gioeli said.

Maureen Kenyon is TCPalm's trends reporter, keeping Treasure Coast residents updated on hot topics and happenings. Do you have a story to tell? Want to start a conversation? Send an email to maureen.kenyon@tcpalm.com, call 772-221-4249 or follow her on Twitter @_MaureenKenyon_.