Charles Angelich wrote
 
--------------toads
 
PM> Cane toads, I believe -- that I think were imported from
PM> Africa. Seems there are now hoards of them there. And
PM> they're big guys. A foot long, if I recall. And their skin
PM> secretes some poisonous substance so they are not easily
PM> handled. Really bizarre story. Don't remember for what
PM> purpose they were brought to Australia in the first place,
PM> tho.
 
> Makes you wonder how people so ignorant manage to
> get the money and the permission to do these
> things?
 
 Australia is now supposed to have some of the strictest
 import / customs laws anywhere. Even minor food
 items brought in by foreign airline passengers are
 suspect. And I believe there are also restrictions
 about transporting animals and foodstuffs between
 states / territories. Probably because of the
 mistakes of the past.
 
> I did a search on the Internet and came up with
> this page:
 
> http://www.fdrproject.org/pages/toads.htm
 
> "Fish who eat toadpoles die. Animals who eat young
> toads and adults die. The museums have plenty of
> snakes preserved in jars which were killed by toad
> toxin so fast, the toad is still in their mouths
> unswallowed. Even small amounts of water which
> toadpoles have gotten into, such as a pet's water
> dish, can be poisoned by toadpoles. When the pet
> comes along to drink from it's dish, it becomes
> sick. Local vets report that a couple dogs a month
> are brought in ill just from mouthing toads."
 
> http://www.gsmfc.org/nis/nis/Bufo_marinus.html
 
> "Maximum Size: This species typically grows to a
> length of 152 mm, with a maximum recorded length
> of 238 mm for the species (Behler, 1979; Conant
> and Collins, 1991).
 
> Distribution: This species naturally occurs from
> the Amazon basin in South America, through Central
> America to extreme southern Texas (Conant and
> Collins, 1991).
 
> Marine toads are established in Stock Island and
> Key West, as well as throughout Dade and Broward
> counties, and in Tampa Bay, Hillsborough county,
> Florida (Ashton and Ashton, 1988; Conant and
> Collins, 1991)."
 
 Worse than I remember. And didn't know we
 had them in North America as well.
 
 Someone in the echo down in Florida?
 
 JimH?
 
 Don't touch any toads, Jim!
 
 

--- Maximus/2 3.01