Buzz
Ribbett. Australia is determined to eradicate cane toads.
Ian Waldie/Getty ImagesMain Points
- Some toads, such as the cane toad and Colorado River toad, secrete venom that includes bufotenine, a compound known for its hallucinogenic properties.
- This venom can be consumed by licking, smoking, or injecting, though its effects are highly unpredictable and potentially hazardous, leading to hallucinations or severe conditions like cardiac arrest.
- For hundreds of years, indigenous communities have incorporated toad venom into their ceremonial practices, but contemporary usage poses serious health dangers.
Australia is making vigorous efforts to expel cane toads. Since their introduction in 1935, these 4-pound (1.8-kilogram) amphibians have flourished excessively on the continent. Originally from the warmer areas of the United States and the tropical zones of South America, the toads were transported from Hawaii to eastern Australia to control scarab beetle populations that were damaging sugar cane plantations [source: Cameron]. Initially, this seemed like a beneficial strategy, as the beetles are a favorite food of the cane toad.
The government has allocated over $15 million to identify a viable method for managing cane toads [source: ScienceDaily]. The reason? These amphibians reproduce at an astonishing rate, with females capable of laying between 8,000 and 35,000 eggs in a single clutch [source: Cameron]. Although only a small percentage survive to adulthood, the cane toad population has exploded in Australia, turning the former pest controller into the pest itself.
In addition to consuming scarab beetles, cane toads feed on honeybees, beetles, ants, termites, and even small mammals [source: Cameron]. When threatened, they secrete a toxic venom potent enough to kill dogs and even humans. Consequently, the Global Invasive Species Database ranks the cane toad among the top 100 most harmful invasive species globally [source: Global Invasive Species Database].
Developing an effective control method has proven challenging, as the government aims to avoid harming other frog or amphibian populations [source: ScienceDaily]. Recently, researchers identified an "alarm pheromone" in cane toads, which they believe could help reduce their numbers in Australia. This chemical signal, when released, scares other toads away. In trials, the pheromone caused tadpoles to die from stress [source: ScienceDaily].
However, not everyone supports the eradication of cane toads. In Australia, these toads play a significant role in certain psychedelic rituals. Are these practices based on genuine effects, or is the cane toad's hallucinogenic reputation a myth? Continue to the next page to uncover the truth.
Bufotenine: Will Croakers Make You Croak?
In the United States, individuals have sought psychoactive effects by using secretions from the Colorado River toad.
Joel Sartore/Getty ImagesDuring the 1980s, Australia banned the use of cane toad secretions under the Drug Misuse Act [source: Uzelac]. This was in response to individuals licking cane toads to achieve a high. The venom cane toads release as a defense mechanism can induce hallucinations when consumed or smoked in specific amounts.
The practice of licking toads isn't confined to Australia. In the U.S., the Bufo alvarius, also known as the Colorado River toad or Sonoran Desert toad, produces similar effects. While owning this toad isn't illegal, its venom's active compound, bufotenine, is regulated. This substance, also found in cane toad venom, led to drug-related arrests in Southwestern states like Arizona during the 1980s and '90s, echoing its popularity in the 1960s.
Those seeking a high extract venom by pressing the toad's paratoid glands, situated behind its eardrums [source: Cameron]. This action causes the toad to release a milky substance, which can be licked directly or dried for smoking. However, consuming bufotenine is risky, as the dosage is unpredictable, potentially leading to hallucinations, cardiac arrest, or death. The hallucinogenic effects stem from 5-MeO-DMT, a compound related to DMT, a natural hallucinogen similar to synthetic LSD. DMT users may experience increased heart rate, dilated pupils, and vivid visual distortions, caused by its interaction with brain neurotransmitters [source: Bruyn et al].
The psychoactive properties of frog secretions were known long before the 1960s. Archaeological findings suggest South American tribes used Colorado River toad venom in rituals as early as 1150 B.C. [source: Cyphers et al]. Tribes like the Matses in Peru and the Matis in Brazil use the venom of the giant monkey frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor) to enhance strength and hunting skills. While not hallucinogenic, applying the venom to open wounds is believed to heighten sensory perception and physical endurance [source: BBC].
However, consuming frog and toad secretions by smoking, licking, or injecting is far from a harmless psychedelic experience. These substances are natural toxins designed to deter predators, making their use potentially life-threatening.
