https://www.nbcnews.com/news/animal-news/national-park-service-urges-visitors-not-lick-toxic-psychedelic-toads-rcna56026While some may be tempted to offer the Sonoran Desert toad a kiss, the National Park Service urged visitors to leave the potentially deadly amphibians alone.
The agency warned visitors on Facebook last week against licking the toads if they stumble across them. It's unclear whether a specific instance prompted the advisory, but "here we are," the National Park Service wrote.
"These toads have prominent parotoid glands that secrete a potent toxin," the post said. "It can make you sick if you handle the frog or get the poison in your mouth."
It might appear strange that anyone would be tempted to lick an amphibian outside of a fairy tale, but this particular toad has been in high demand, according to a New York Times report this year.
People have exploited the toad's toxin as psychedelic, smoking it to experience euphoria and hallucinations, according to the Oakland Zoo.
