Park officials warn visitors to STOP LICKING psychedelic toad that sweats ‘trippy’ liquid
PARK officials are pleading with visitors to stop licking psychedelic toads in a bid to get high as it can lead to death.
The Sonoran Desert Toad secretes a toxin from its glands that can create a hallucinogenic experience and make people sick.
The US National Park Service has now been forced to beg Americans to “refrain from licking” the toads, which are one of the largest toads native to North America – and one of the most dangerous.
Officials warned the toxins secreted from the amphibians could lead to hospitalisation or death.
They said: ”These toads have prominent parotoid glands that secrete a potent toxin.
“It can make you sick if you handle the frog or get the poison in your mouth.”
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As well as hallucinations, the liquid can cause anxiety, nausea or seizures and even potentially death.
It can also be crystalised and smoke as a psychedelic substance, according to The New York Times.
Celebrities such as Mike Tyson and controversial podcaster Joe Rogan have discussed the use of the toxic toad substance for therapeutic, recreational, and even spiritual purposes.
The toads are among the largest in North America, at nearly seven inches (18 centimetres) long.
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The messages did not indicate how many people have been seeking recreational highs by licking the creatures, which reside in the southwestern United States and northwest Mexico.
The toads secrete a milky substance containing various toxins, among which is 5-MeO-DMT — a psychoactive compound that causes hallucinations.
Psychadelic experiences from this compound have become increasingly popular in recent years, with some “toad ceremonies” being conducted in the US, where it is a controlled substance, and in Mexico.
According to the Arizona Desert Museum, dog owners should be especially careful if they come across one of the toads as the toxins are strong enough to kill full-grown dogs.
If the toad licking continues, it could even endanger the toad, which scientists have warned would be detrimental to the species.
Park officials added: “As we say with most things you come across in a national park, whether it be a banana slug, an unfamiliar mushroom, or a large toad with glowing eyes in the dead of night, please refrain from licking.”