Its bush's fault
Posted on 04/30/2005 12:15:40 AM PDT by neverdem
Associated Press
BERLIN, April 28 -- More than 1,000 toads have puffed up and exploded in a Hamburg pond in recent weeks, and German scientists have no explanation for it. The pond water has been tested, but its quality is no better or worse than elsewhere in the city. The toad remains have been checked for a virus or bacterium, but none has been found.
One German scientist studying the remains has a theory: Hungry crows are pecking out their livers. "The crows are clever," said Frank Mutschmann, a Berlin veterinarian who collected and tested specimens at the Hamburg pond. "They learn quickly from watching other crows how to get the livers."
Based on the wounds, Mutschmann said, it appears that a bird pecks into the toad with its beak between the chest and abdominal cavity, and the toad puffs itself up as a natural defense mechanism.
But because the liver is missing and there's a hole in the toad's body, the blood vessels and lungs burst and the other organs ooze out, he said. "It's not unique -- it's in a city area, and that makes it spectacular," Mutschmann said. "Of course, it's something very dramatic."
There have also been reports of exploded toads in a pond near Laasby in central Jutland in Denmark.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Hamburg? This is creepy. Lots of evil-doers hail from Hamburg.
FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.
I hate it when that happens.
'sploadin' toad ping ;>
ping
Maybe they aren't German. Maybe they're French.
Yuck.
Come on!!!
Some garlic and Tunisian cold pressed olive oil and juniper berries sauteeded over a medium heat. We're talkin' heaven here!!!
Geezus! Are you serious?! But then, I don't liver of any kind.
Terroristtoads
Perhaps you should use the search function:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1392657/posts
I here you. The liver is where all the toxins a creature eats go to die but I have a weakness for pate.
A Polish friend of mine gave me a recipe for Chicken liver pate.
3 lbs of chicken liver (bile ducts and fat removed)
1 bulb of garlic
1 tbsp of juniper berries
three stips of bacon chopped
1/4 diced onion
3 0z of red wine.
two sprigs of chopped fresh dill chopped
1 tsp of mustard powder.
Grease a bread pan with butter and bake livers at 350 degrees turning occasionally until all the livers are brown. Remove from oven.
Meanwhile saute garlic, oil, juniper berries onion and wine
until onion and garlic are soft.
Fold mixture into livers and mash with potato masher until uniform.
Press into pan in a loaf 3" thick and return to oven at 350 degrees. Check periodically. When mixure turns brown on top mix with spatula and form again into loaf 3"" thick.
Continue until the loaf is slightly pink in the middle.
Remove from oven and sprinkle dill and mustard powder on top.
Put in fridge to set for 1 hr.
Cut in 1/2 slices and serve with bread or crackers.
Trust me if you hate liver you will love this.
I searched and saw that article. I didn't see any mention of crows eating toad liver. Neither did it have any mention of Denmark.
So...toad pate would be somewhat similar I assume.
Come on, folks, this one is a no-brainer.
It's GLOBAL WARMING.
These exploding toads are merely the vanguard of the coming locust swarms, tsunamis, starvation, and tropical diseases.
If only you'd bought a hybrid car. Not only could you spam every "rising gas prices" thread, you would also be saving the planet.
Its bush's fault
I wonder if, there is a baking soda plant in Hamburg? They maybe discarding their waste or excess in some of the streams.
I have taken baking soda and water for indigestion and take a little too much and I feel like an exploding toad.
Oh yeah!....baking soda will let you say San Bernardino in burp talk!...great stuff.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.