PBS Terra examines 'Invasion of the Toxic Toads: Nature's Most Successful Failure'

I acknowledged an omission to correct in the penultimate paragraph of 'I Visited a Mosquito Factory' from 'Human Footprint' on PBS for World Mosquito Day.

I've never mentioned cane toads on this blog before, but they're one of the organisms my students use for their answers to a question on the final exam for my organismal biology class. Since I just graded those exams yesterday, cane toads are fresh on my mind. That's a story my students tell me.

I then watched Danny Anduza on Twitch react to part of a PBS Terra video about cane toads, Invasion of the Toxic Toads: Nature's Most Successful Failure, so I decided to embed it here. Watch.

They prefer suburban living, they’ll eat anything in sight (including each other), and…they’re taking over the world?

This Earth Month, say hello to the Cane Toad: the epitome of failing upward. Wishfully introduced as a solution to a problem, cane toads have become the problem themselves. They’ve established themselves as an extremely successful invasive species… by doing nothing? Join the Fascinating Fails team as we look into how Cane Toads keep taking over ecosystems and what an ‘invasive species’ means in the era of climate change. Plus, find out ways YOU can help fight the climate crisis—it’s as simple as taking a picture!

Florida, the new home of Burmese Pythons, Lionfish, and Giant African Snails, now has Cane Toads, too. I wish I could say I'm surprised. I also wish I could be more surprised that they are spreading north through the Sunshine State because of climate change, but I've known that Burmese Pythons could spread that far north (they already have) and have been projected to be able to inhabit areas as far north as southern Maryland, so I'm not.

PBS Terra has more in Invasive reptiles & amphibians are taking over...where!?!?

Did you know that Florida is home to 180 species of non-native reptiles and amphibians—and that’s JUST reptiles and amphibians! Luckily, there are a few ways to get things under control. Fascinating Fails host Maren Hunsberger tells us how!

Yikes! Florida has a worse problem with invasive species than I thought and I already knew it was bad!

I conclude with The Frog Tier List - Rapid Fire Edition, where TierZoo ranks frogs and toads.

WHICH FROG RANKS HIGHEST?

Spoiler alert, it's the Cane Toad.

Thanks to my students, Danny A. on Twitch, and PBS Terra for reminding me about Cane Toads. I learned a lot of new things today, which makes today a good day. Now stay tuned for the Sunday entertainment feature. Maybe I'll finally continue my Emmy Awards series!