Florida Frogs: Protecting Yourself And Your Pet Against Venomous Frogs

Unlike in the classic story when the little green frog transforms into a young prince, many frogs are poisonous so how can you protect yourself and your pets against venomous frogs?

Poisonous, however not venomous, frogs are found around the world. The reason for this is that the majority of frogs and toads create poisons using glands in their skin; frogs do not shoot venom from fangs and they do not have stingers either.

There are well over 5000 varieties of frogs on the planet. There is scientific proof that frogs have been on Earth for much more than 200 million. Frogs and many other amphibians are good biological indicators of the overall health of ecosystems because of their porous skin, biphasic existence, which means they have aquatic larvae but instead terrestrial adults, and intermediate position on the food chain. In spite of fish and wildlife conservation, more than 65 frog species have been reported to have vanished in South and Central America as a result of global warming. Frogs are primarily freshwater animals, yet some, like the Florida leopard frog, can live in brackish to predominantly saline water.

Some of the most popular Florida frog species are carpenter frog, eastern spadefoot frog, spring peeper frog, gopher frog, Cope's gray treefrog, Fowler's toad, Florida bog frog, southern chorus frog, southern leopard frog, ornate chorus frog, and the oak toad. But which frogs are toxic or poisonous and how can you safeguard yourself and your loving pet against such frogs?

Let’s find out about Florida frogs-toads, also check out where do frogs live and Florida tree frogs.

What is the most common frog in Florida?

Frogs and toads abound throughout Florida like the fascinating bird-voiced tree frog. Even certain invasive frog species have made their home here. The squirrel treefrogs are one of Florida's most common amphibians in Florida fish and wildlife.

The squirrel treefrogs may be found across Florida and also the keys to building structures, bushes, and greenery in both urbanized and natural settings, such as floodplain woodlands and marshes, pine-oak forests, and among pine flat woods. The body of a squirrel treefrog is tan, green, grey, or brown, having splotches; the surface is flawless. On bright green ones, the upper lip is frequently yellowish. Sides may well be characterized by broken, pale streaks. These tree frogs are not poisonous or toxic, however, they will release a substance onto their skin to defend themselves from the prey, particularly your dogs and cats, and thus your beloved pet may have stomach pain and/or vomiting after consuming a tree frog.

Are there any poisonous frogs in Florida?

There are no native Florida frogs or toads that are lethal to humans or canines. The cane toad, also known as the bufo, giant, and maybe even marine toad however is an exception.

The cane toad is a big, non-native amphibian that has been imported to Florida. Unlike the southern toad or a river frog, cane toads are classified as an invasive species since they are harmful to all animals that bite or swallow them. Adult cane toads can grow to be bigger than your palm, far bigger than any Florida toad and frog.

Cane toads are non-native and produce a poisonous, sometimes lethal, fluid from glands on their back. Their shoulders are covered in huge triangular poison glands. The glands of cane toads exude or quirk out the poison whenever a dog bites down. It may be fatal if left untreated.

How many species of frogs are native to Florida?

There are 27 native frog species in Florida.

These frog species range from the colder, drier climate of Northern Florida towards the humid, swampy swamplands of the south due to the state's various temperature extremes and geography. The different native frog species of Florida include the Cuban treefrog, Florida cricket frog, little grass frog, bronze frog, and more.

When do they usually come out?

The frogs singing is one of the first signals of spring. Cold-blooded amphibians must avoid emerging too early in the spring. Whenever rainfall and melting snow create puddles that maintain their body's temperature over freezing, they come out.

The green tree frog is a peaceful creature. They are nocturnal, coming out shortly in the evenings in the spring and summer to call and to forage at night. Throughout the day, they sleep in places that are cooler, shady, and wet. Green tree frogs do not call or appear during the winter months.

How to identify invasive cane toads?

Always double-check that you've recognized a toad as a cane toad. Please take care not to kill native toad species like the Fowler's toad or the oak toad, which are a vital element of the ecosystem and are not hazardous to humans or pets.

A cane toad can be identified by the following characteristics:

The hue of a cane toad ranges from reddish-brown to greyish-brown.

A cane toad has beige and otherwise light-yellow stomach

Glandular enlargements that slant down to the shoulders are a prominent feature of a cane toad.

The length of a cane toad varies between 6-9 in (15.0-22.5 cm).

Unlike a southern toad, cane toads don't have ridges on your head.

Cane toads possess webbed toes with the rough warty epidermis, but no webbed hands.

The parotoid glands on the backs of juvenile cane toads are not visible. Their erect posture distinguishes them.

What to do if your pet comes into contact with a cane toad?

Nibbling at the mouth and face, mouth-frothing, deep red gums, bewilderment, or frantic behavior will all be present in your pet if it had an interaction with a cane toad; it could whimper and have seizures too.

When pets come into contact with a cane toad on your property, clean out the inside of his or her mouth with a moist towel first. Keep wiping your pet's tongue, gums, and inner and exterior lips. Because the venom of giant toads is viscous and sticky, it's important to be rigorous. After that, rinse your pet's mouth for approximately 10 minutes with a yard hose.

How to get rid of bufo toads in Florida?

Traps and fences have been used in the past to reduce cane toad populations, although the majority of them have been physically removed from the ecosystem.

You may also use an aerosol spray which can be sprayed straight onto toads without touching them. It anesthetizes toads in moments and mercifully kills them in 30-60 minutes. Applying a little dab of Orajel or a similar numbing substance on the bufo toad while wearing latex or rubber gloves is a humane approach to killing it. Put them in a zip lock bag and put them in the freezer for 48 hours after some time. Then get rid of them.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Florida frogs then why not take a look at what is a group of frogs called, or Bufo toad facts.