PHOENIX (AZFamily)<\/b> \u2014 Recent unseasonable rainfall in the Valley is bringing rarely seen toads and mushrooms to parks and backyards.<\/p>\n
An increase in these organisms in the Valley has prompted warnings from poison control officials about potential dangers to people and pets.<\/p>\n
The director of the Banner Poison Control and Drug Information Center<\/a> said some people are trying to lick Sonoran Desert toads, also known as Colorado River toads, to get a high, but the practice can result in illness or even death. <\/p>\n The Sonoran Desert toad excretes a neurotoxin that contains DMT, the same psychoactive compound found in magic mushrooms and ayahuasca. The toad toxin can be fatal to humans and pets.<\/p>\n Grey Stafford, a zoologist whose German Shepherd survived licking one of the toads, said immediate action is crucial if a pet encounters the amphibian.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first thing I would do is take a garden hose and flush their tongue and get to an emergency room right away,\u201d Stafford said. \u201cThe key thing is you want to keep their body temperature from spiking cause that could lead to seizure or death, and so quick rinse of the tongue, work that tongue, get that slime off.\u201d<\/p>\n Banner Poison Control says it\u2019s difficult to determine which mushrooms are safe to eat. They warned people not to touch mushrooms growing in yards and lawns.<\/p>\n Mushrooms are also appearing after the recent rainfall. Banner Poison Control says it\u2019s difficult to determine which mushrooms are safe to eat. They warned people not to touch mushrooms growing in yards and lawns because they can cause severe stomach problems.<\/p>\n Officials advise contacting the Poison Control and Drug Information Center at (800) 222-1222<\/b><\/a> with any questions about toxic toads or mushrooms.<\/p>\n See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it<\/a>.<\/p>\n