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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Environment
Samira Asma-Sadeque

Toad licking: just say no, National Parks Service tells Americans seeking a high

America Sonoran
The Sonoran desert toad (Incilius alvarius) is considered ‘endangered’ in California and ‘threatened’ in New Mexico.
The Sonoran desert toad (Incilius alvarius) is considered ‘endangered’ in California and ‘threatened’ in New Mexico. Photograph: Mark Newman/Getty Images

The US National Park Service is warning people to stop licking one of the largest toads in America, due to a toxin it secretes from its glands that can create a hallucinogenic experience.

The Sonoran desert toad, which emits a quick, “weak low-pitched toot”, can make someone sick if they touch it or lick it, NPS said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

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