Lions and Tigers and…Toads? by Jack Cole

Well, we have arrived upon bufo toad season, and our community cats aren’t the least bit pleased. In case you haven’t met one, a bufo (or cane) toad is a big, invasive species of a toad that loves to hang out near ponds and other wet areas in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. They are also poisonous to other animals, like cats and dogs. The cats have a love/hate relationship with these toads - the toads love to eat the cats’ food, and the cats hate them around. Luckily, our kitties seem to sense the danger of the toads and never attempt to attack them. These unwelcome amphibians are known to jump right into the cats’ food bowls once the cats are done, and it makes for a downright unappetizing dining experience!