Comment Re:Simple Solution (Score 2, Informative) 273
I also live in Florida, Tampa to be specific. I moved into a house north of the city and about 2 years in starting noticing these toads in the back yard. At first I didn't think much of them...they were small and few in numbers. Then they started getting bigger and I do mean big. But still, I didn't think much of them. I never left any sort of food outside for them so I figured they ate bugs and whatever else they could find.
Then one day after letting my dogs outside I noticed one was salivating profusely, so much that it looked like someone had turned on a faucet in her mouth. She is one to chase everything and anything...squirrels, anoles, whatever. I wiped her up and she seemed fine so I didn't worry much about it. A month or so later we went out of town. When we got back, the woman who petsat for us said that the same thing had happened to her. I thought weird, but again didn't think much of it because nothing happened again.
During a later visit to the vet, I mentioned to them about these toads in the yard. The tech went into the back and came back with one of these toads in a formaldehyde jar. She then informed me exactly what they were and how dangerous they are to pets. I then put 2 and 2 together and realized how lucky my dog was (she weighs only 30 lbs).
Since that time, anytime I see one I immediately kill it. Fuck being humane. They need to be eradicated. I get out the shovel and start smacking the crap out of them. Sometimes it takes a good 4 or 5 hits before they finally succumb.
Good riddance.
