20180217A crapaud www.lfwa.org.jpg
No, handling a toad won’t give you warts. Source: www.lfwa.org

Decidedly, old misconceptions have a long life! I thought the myth that touching a toad will give you warts was a thing of the past, but just recently a reader emailed me asking if it were true.

The answer is … of course not!

This old belief comes from the fact that the toad’s body seems covered with warts, but in fact, it isn’t. The protuberances that cover its body are glands that help keep its skin moist, not warts. And some of these glands release a poison to discourage its predators and therefore it’s always best to wash your hands after handling a toad, otherwise it could cause skin irritation on some individuals … but not warts!

20180217B nature.mdc.mo.gov.jpg
There is rarely a good reason to handle toads anyway. Just let them be. Source: nature.mdc.mo.gov

Anyway, there is rarely a good reason to manipulate a wild animal, not even something as docile as a toad.

Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and spread by touch from one infected person to another. The virus  can also live on surfaces for some time, so it’s not wise to walk barefoot in a public place. But warts never come from animals.

Toads are beneficial creatures that consume many plant predators (insects, slugs, etc.) and, as such, we should encourage their presence in our gardens, but we don’t normally have to handle them. Just let them live their life, period!

War Flowers copy.png

Garden writer and blogger, author of 65 gardening books, lecturer and communicator, the Laidback Gardener, Larry Hodgson, passed away in October 2022. Known for his great generosity, his thoroughness and his sense of humor, he reached several generations of amateur and professional gardeners over his 40-year career. Thanks to his son, Mathieu Hodgson, and a team of contributors, laidbackgardener.blog will continue its mission of demystifying gardening and making it more accessible to all.

0 comments on “Garden Myth: Toads Give Warts

Leave a Reply

Sign up for the Laidback Gardener blog and receive articles in your inbox every morning!