National Park Service urges visitors to stop licking hallucinogenic toads

Washington DC - The National Park Service is urging park visitors to stop licking a toad that secretes a toxic, yet trippy, venom.

The National Park Service described this Sonoran Desert Toad as something that's "staring into your soul."
The National Park Service described this Sonoran Desert Toad as something that's "staring into your soul."  © Screenshot/Facebook/National Park Service

In a Facebook post, the service warned visitors to beware of the Sonoran Desert toad, also known as the Colorado River toad.

As one of the largest species of toads in North America measuring seven or more inches, it has a wild trait that could cause harm when touched or ingested.

"These toads have prominent parotoid glands that secrete a potent toxin," the agency explained. "It can make you sick if you handle the frog or get the poison in your mouth."

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According to the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum, the toxin is used as a defense measure and has the capacity to be lethal to pets.

Humans have sought the critter for the toxin's hallucinogenic properties. It reportedly contains bufotenine and 5-MeO-DMT, which causes a psychedelic experience when ingested or, in some cases, smoked that's four to six times more potent than its cousin, dimethyltryptamine (DMT).

Celebrity Christina Hall claimed her experience with "toading" (that's what the cool kids call it these days) "basically reset my brain and kicked out years of anxiety in 15 minutes." And former boxer Mike Tyson told Joe Rogan that "the toad has taught me that I'm not going to be here forever. There's an expiration date."

The next time you hear a "weak, low-pitched toot" and see "glowing eyes in the dead of night," beware of the Sonoran Desert toad.

Cover photo: Screenshot/Facebook/National Park Service

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