Cane Toad vs. Southern Toad: How to Tell the Difference in Florida

Not every toad in your Florida yard is a dangerous cane toad. Telling them apart matters, because the native southern toad is mostly harmless while the invasive cane toad is a serious threat to dogs.

How to tell them apart

Size. Cane toads are big — often 4 to 6 inches or larger. A toad bigger than your fist is almost certainly a cane toad. Southern toads usually stay under 3 to 4 inches. Shoulders. Cane toads have large, triangular poison glands that sit on their shoulders behind the eyes. Crests. Southern toads have prominent ridges or crests on top of the head; cane toads lack these pronounced crests. Babies are tricky. Young cane toads can be small and easy to mistake, so when in doubt, keep your dog away.

When in doubt, keep dogs clear

You should never handle a cane toad with bare hands, and you should not let your dog investigate any toad. If you are unsure what you are looking at, treat it as a cane toad.

Protect the whole yard

Rather than identifying toads one by one, make the entire yard a place they avoid. PupDefense deters cane toads organically so your dog is protected day and night.

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