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The National Park Service wants people to stop licking the Sonoran Desert toad

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

Good morning. I'm Rachel Martin. The National Park Service wants to remind you not to feed or pet the wildlife. And also, please stop licking the toads - specifically the Colorado River toad, which secretes a toxin that can make you sick. But because the toads' toxic secretions also contain a powerful hallucinogen, toad licking has become sort of a thing, to the point where the amphibians are considered threatened in New Mexico. So if you do see a toad, just leave it be.

(SOUNDBITE OF TOAD CROAKING)

MARTIN: It's MORNING EDITION. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

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The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.