This afternoon I requested more complete information about a toxic frog issue locally that was making animals ill and in some cases even killing them, dogs mostly.
So I asked two news anchors on the station that provided the initial report but not a defined location, since they said it was in Port Charlotte but we are a rather vast area, with inland woodsy type areas east of the main highway I75, as well as where we live waterfront that is on the west side.
Flora and faunas can be quite different here as anywhere I am more than sure.
We do not have coyotes or bears along our shores, inland yes, but an occasional alligator here who do prefer fresh water more so than our salt or combo brackish water in some locations. I have only seen two in all the seventeen years we have been in this particular home, and it is our third home in this state alone, and we always lived by water, salt, not fresh, and those two were the only ones in nearly thirty years I have seen here in the wild, nature. Still I have not seen any bears or coyotes, sure an occasional racoon, a couple of otters, and too many to count waterfowl, mostly ducks, herons, ibis and the like, and hawks, osprey and eagles, and many opossums that seem to enjoy our yard along with one squirrel who eats our avocados.
So we do have animals and a few times Cuban tree frogs, also toxic to pets.
But this Bufo frog:
"Reproduction: The giant toad breeds year-round in standing water, streams, canals and ditches.
CAUTION: When this non-native species is threatened or handled, it secretes a highly toxic milky substance from its large parotoid glands at the back of its head, behind the ears. This secretion can burn your eyes, may irritate your skin, and can kill cats and dogs if they ingest the secretion.
Symptoms of Giant Toad poisoning in pets include drooling, head-shaking, crying, loss of coordination, and, in more serious cases, convulsions. The dog's (or cat's) gums often turn red, an indicator used by veterinarians to distinguish toad poisoning from epilepsy. For this reason, pet owners should be familiar with their pet's normal gum color. Treatment: If you suspect toad poisoning, get a hose and run water in the side of the dog's/cat's mouth, pointing the animal's head downward so water isn't swallowed. Rub the gums and mouth to remove the toxin. This treatment is usually successful, but call your veterinarian immediately."
For more information about the giant toad, please see the publication entitled "Florida Invader: Cane Toad"
http://www.wec.ufl.edu/extension/wildlife_info/frogstoads/bufo_marinus.php
Even this info is rather vague since we have water inland and shore wise.
I suppose the information is not exact since no one knows for sure.
On that note of preferring not to think that they were being rude, when the one's site said that the female anchor answers questions within minutes and hours have passed...allow me to be the very first to wish all of you a very happy good night and ask you all to kindly count all your blessings and share all your overages with you know whom and we will too!
And next time please be here or be square, ya hear!
An after thought: I suppose we will just have to keep a closer watch on Gus, but he doesn't even try to eat lizards that are small and plentiful here, so I think he will be fine.
Happy sixth night of Hanukkah!
So I asked two news anchors on the station that provided the initial report but not a defined location, since they said it was in Port Charlotte but we are a rather vast area, with inland woodsy type areas east of the main highway I75, as well as where we live waterfront that is on the west side.
Flora and faunas can be quite different here as anywhere I am more than sure.
We do not have coyotes or bears along our shores, inland yes, but an occasional alligator here who do prefer fresh water more so than our salt or combo brackish water in some locations. I have only seen two in all the seventeen years we have been in this particular home, and it is our third home in this state alone, and we always lived by water, salt, not fresh, and those two were the only ones in nearly thirty years I have seen here in the wild, nature. Still I have not seen any bears or coyotes, sure an occasional racoon, a couple of otters, and too many to count waterfowl, mostly ducks, herons, ibis and the like, and hawks, osprey and eagles, and many opossums that seem to enjoy our yard along with one squirrel who eats our avocados.
So we do have animals and a few times Cuban tree frogs, also toxic to pets.
But this Bufo frog:
"Reproduction: The giant toad breeds year-round in standing water, streams, canals and ditches.
CAUTION: When this non-native species is threatened or handled, it secretes a highly toxic milky substance from its large parotoid glands at the back of its head, behind the ears. This secretion can burn your eyes, may irritate your skin, and can kill cats and dogs if they ingest the secretion.
Symptoms of Giant Toad poisoning in pets include drooling, head-shaking, crying, loss of coordination, and, in more serious cases, convulsions. The dog's (or cat's) gums often turn red, an indicator used by veterinarians to distinguish toad poisoning from epilepsy. For this reason, pet owners should be familiar with their pet's normal gum color. Treatment: If you suspect toad poisoning, get a hose and run water in the side of the dog's/cat's mouth, pointing the animal's head downward so water isn't swallowed. Rub the gums and mouth to remove the toxin. This treatment is usually successful, but call your veterinarian immediately."
For more information about the giant toad, please see the publication entitled "Florida Invader: Cane Toad"
http://www.wec.ufl.edu/extension/wildlife_info/frogstoads/bufo_marinus.php
Even this info is rather vague since we have water inland and shore wise.
I suppose the information is not exact since no one knows for sure.
On that note of preferring not to think that they were being rude, when the one's site said that the female anchor answers questions within minutes and hours have passed...allow me to be the very first to wish all of you a very happy good night and ask you all to kindly count all your blessings and share all your overages with you know whom and we will too!
And next time please be here or be square, ya hear!
An after thought: I suppose we will just have to keep a closer watch on Gus, but he doesn't even try to eat lizards that are small and plentiful here, so I think he will be fine.
Happy sixth night of Hanukkah!