You may already have heard about the Colorado River Toad, also known as the Sonoran Desert Toad, but didn’t realize it. Do you remember a silly song by Mason Williams in 1964 that gained some popularity called “Them Toad Suckers”? Or perhaps you have heard the urban legend that people can get high by licking a certain kind of toad. These notions are based on the scientific fact that the Bufo Alvarius toad has glands that secrete a very unusual substance. On its legs, behind its eyes and over its ears are glands that appear to be large sized bumps, and they secrete a venom that is milky looking in appearance. This venom is a dangerous substance. It is powerful enough to kill a cat, dog or even a human being, conceivably, if they were unfortunate enough to ingest a sufficient quantity of the stuff. Besides being toxic in the digestive system, it also can irritate eyes and nasal areas seriously. For this reason, people who handle Colorado River Toads should be very cautious always to wash their hands afterwards.
Why, then, you may be wondering, are these bizarre creatures kept as pets by owners who say they are cute and who take loving care of them? The reason is a bit perverse. It is because the venom of the Bufo Alvarius toad, in addition to being poisonous, also contains large quantities of a chemical alkaloid called 5-MEO-DMT, which happens to be a powerfully hallucinogenic substance. If this venom is dried and then smoked in a pipe, for example, it is said to induce a psychedelic effect that may include hallucinations, visual illusions, distorted perception, unusual brightness and beauty and a mood of euphoria that may include unmotivated laughing. These effects are said to be of relatively short duration and the experience has often been described as pleasant.
It is because the hallucinogenic or psychedelic properties of toad venom have similarities to those of other controlled substances, including cannabis, LSD, magic mushrooms and peyote cactus, lawmakers, police officers and other law enforcement officials in some jurisdictions, particularly in the United States of America, are looking to make possession of a Bufo Alvarius toad illegal. In come areas, individuals who were found to be owning a Sonoran Desert Toad have already been charged with committing a crime. Because of these legal issues, any person who is interested in keeping a Colorado River Toad as a unique pet should do his or her homework and learn more about the rules that govern their particular community, or else they may perhaps risk stepping afoul of the law.
There are several ways a person may obtain a Bufo Alvarius toad. These include capturing them in the wild and purchasing them. There are now online information sources that reveal details about where people can find or buy a Colorado River toad for themselves if they so desire.
Source by Marlie Parsons
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