National Park Service Issues Warning About Licking Poisonous Toad

There are times when people do things that we have a difficult time believing. It may even become somewhat of a trend, but just because people are doing it does not mean that it is the right thing to do.

Perhaps that is why the National Park Service felt it necessary to warn people not to lick the Sonoran Desert toad, which is also called the Colorado River toad.

You might be wondering why people would lick a toad in the first place, but in this case, it is not just a crazy trend, but rather, it is because it can induce a euphoric feeling. That high, however, can also come with rather damaging consequences, so the NPS wants to let you know that you should not put your tongue on the frogs.

In fact, the National Park Service said on Facebook: “As we say with most things you come across in a national park, whether it be a banana slug, unfamiliar mushroom, or a large toad with glowing eyes in the dead of night, please refrain from licking. Thank you. Toot!”

That little toot on the end is not there by mistake. According to their post on Facebook, the toad makes a rather unusual sound that is similar to somebody breaking wind. Perhaps you find this funny because many people say that they stepped on a toad when they accidentally fart.

The Sonoran desert toad is one of the largest toads in North America. Full-grown, they are about 7 inches long but they have captivated our hearts because of the unusual noise that they make.

If you kiss one of these toads, you are not going to make him a prince. What you might get, however, is sick because they secrete a toxin from their parotoid glands that is definitely not good for humans.

So, if you ever hear about somebody licking a toad, you may want to pass this warning along to them. It’s not good for you and the warning is just a reminder that not every trend is a good trend.