Faute de Mieux: When Toads Explode: It's All Perfectly Natural

Thursday, April 28, 2005

When Toads Explode: It's All Perfectly Natural

Scientists have been trying to figure out why toads in a pond in Hamburg, Germany, have been exploding. There were many theories from disease, to fungus, to toad suicide. Testing and investigation of the so-called "death pond" yielded no easy answers, but the latest report from the AP news points to local crows as the culprit. Scientist's latest theory is that sneaky crows have been pecking out the toads' livers, and when the toads puff up a part of their natural defense mechanism, the crow-pecked holes in their bodies cause them to explode. Isn't nature beautiful?

posted by Amanda, Thursday, April 28, 2005