Mom on a Mission

It all started in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. The storm had left her Tampa neighborhood in disarray, with debris scattered across every street, blocking pathways and taking over yards. For weeks, piles of tree branches, shingles, and shredded fencing remained at the curb, waiting for city crews to come and clear them away.

It was during this time, as Sara walked her young children past the ever-growing piles of debris, that she first encountered something that would change her life forever—a massive cane toad. It had somehow found its way into the detritus, and its appearance was both bizarre and intriguing. Her children, full of questions, eagerly asked what the creature was, how it got there, and why it was so big. Sara, initially unaware of the toad's significance, didn't have answers. But curiosity piqued, and after a few quick Google searches, she was stunned by what she found.

The Cane Toad—an invasive species wreaking havoc on Florida's fragile ecosystem—was a dangerous and destructive creature that had been introduced to the state decades ago to control agricultural pests. But it had no natural predators and quickly became a threat to local wildlife, pets, and even humans. The poisonous toad secreted a deadly toxin called bufotoxin, which could cause serious harm, even death, to animals who came in contact with it. Worse, its rapid breeding habits meant that every toad was capable of producing thousands of offspring, continuing the cycle of damage.

Sara felt an immediate responsibility to act. Armed with new knowledge and a deep sense of concern for her pets, her neighborhood, and the environment, she set to work. Every time she spotted a cane toad, she would capture it and remove it from circulation, using humane methods to euthanize the toad safely. But this was just the beginning of her journey.

Sara soon found herself patrolling her block regularly. She'd head out at night with a flashlight, scanning the yards and gardens for any sign of the toads. It was hard, sometimes discouraging work. The cane toads were everywhere, and the numbers seemed to grow with each passing year. But Sara's passion grew too. With every toad she removed, she felt she was taking a small victory over the environmental threat that had, until then, largely been ignored. She wasn't alone, but she was one of the few actively fighting back.

After three years of removal work, something magical happened. Sara was on one of her usual patrols, scanning the ground, when she noticed something different—a small, native Southern toad hopping across her path. For the first time, Sara felt a flicker of hope. It had taken three years of diligent work, but this tiny toad was a sign of progress. It meant that, maybe, just maybe, she was making a difference.

The very next year, Sara was on her nightly patrol, when she spotted 11 native toads in one night. Native toads—real toads that belonged in Florida's ecosystems—were finally reclaiming the landscape from the cane toads. That was the moment she knew: this wasn't a hopeless cause. Removing the invasive toads was actually working. Every single toad that she captured, every toad she prevented from breeding, was a small victory. Each one potentially stopped hundreds of thousands of cane toads from reproducing and continuing to disrupt the local environment.

But the work wasn't over. Over the years, Sara had removed more than 200 cane toads from South Tampa. Sara's work became more than just a hobby or a personal mission—it became a passion, a cause that she dedicated herself to with every ounce of energy.

She realized that many people thought it was a lost cause, that the cane toads had proliferated so much that nothing could stop them. But she knew better. Small actions add up. Every toad removed, every step taken toward protecting the native species, helped. It wasn’t just about numbers; it was about taking control of the environment. And slowly, through Sara's relentless work, the natural balance was being restored.

In time, her work earned her a reputation in the community. Friends, neighbors, and even local businesses started reaching out to her for help. Some had no idea about the damage these toads could cause, while others were dealing with their own invasions. Sara was there to offer guidance, help with removal, and educate those who were unaware of the environmental disaster unfolding right in their backyards.

As her mission grew, Sara realized she wanted to do more. She founded The Toad Lady, a company dedicated to the humane removal and management of cane toads and Cuban tree frogs. Through her company, she now helps homeowners, businesses, and conservationists protect Florida's ecosystems from these harmful creatures. And while she can’t remove every single toad, she knows she’s making a real impact.

Sara’s journey from a curious mother to a passionate environmental advocate has been nothing short of remarkable. She turned what seemed like a small, personal mission into a full-scale campaign to protect the environment and educate others. It all began with a single toad, and that toad has sparked a movement.

Sara is proof that one determined individual can make a difference. And as she continues to patrol South Tampa, removing toads and spreading awareness, she’s just getting started. The Toad Lady’s mission is far from over, and Sara gets one step closer to restoring balance to Florida’s ecosystems, one toad at a time.