In brief
New research indicates that the famed Sonoran Desert toad, known for its psychedelic secretions, is facing severe population decline. Increased trapping prompted by an upsurge in interest in psychedelic drugs—combined with habitat destruction—poses a significant threat to the species' survival.
The Sonoran Desert toad, an unassuming amphibian characterized by its plump green body adorned with warty brown spots and striking golden eyes, is quickly becoming a victim of its own potent defenses. These toads exhibit an extraordinary ability to produce the psychedelic compound 5-MeO-DMT from their skin glands, a trait that has unfortunately attracted the attention of thrill-seekers and drug users. Recent research highlights the alarming impact this trend has had on the toad's populations in Mexico, with both trapping and habitat destruction leading to significant declines.Anny Ortiz, clinical therapeutics lead at the Usona Institute, presented these findings at the Psychedelic Science conference in Denver last month, emphasizing the dire situation faced by this species. "In just over a decade, we’ve put this species at risk of extinction in the name of healing and expansion of consciousness," Ortiz remarked. The combination of rampant trapping for its psychedelic secretions, habitat loss, and climate change has created what she describes as a "triple whammy," jeopardizing the toad's future.While the psychedelic properties of the Sonoran Desert toad have been known since 1967, the spike in public interest can largely be traced back to 2014, when mainstream media began to highlight the practice of smoking the toad's dried secretions for a brief but intense euphoric experience. Ortiz points out that many reports propagated the misconception that the use of toad medicine was a traditional practice among Indigenous groups in the Sonoran Desert; however, there is no substantiating evidence for this claim.As awareness of the toad's psychedelic potential grows, so too does the threat to their survival, with the pressure mounting on this fascinating yet fragile species.
