A toad capable of killing a dog in less than twenty minutes. An introduced species brought in to save crops that never fulfilled its mission. These two realities have coexisted for nearly a century in the ponds and gardens of Guadeloupe, where an otherwise discreet amphibian continues to cause silent damage. Its presence is so common that many residents no longer fear it, despite its glands containing a toxic cocktail capable of electrocuting a pet in just a few minutes. How has a creature introduced with the best intentions become one of the most underestimated threats to the Caribbean fauna? The story of this invader deserves to be told in detail, as it perfectly illustrates the possible deviations of a poorly managed biological control. The cane toad (Rhinella marina), introduced in the 1930s to combat pests in the sugar cane, never fulfilled this objective and has proliferated without natural predators. Its parotoid glands secrete a cardiotoxic and hallucinogenic bufotoxin that can kill a dog in a few minutes through biting, licking, or even simple contact. No eradication solution exists today, and caution, especially near stagnant water at night, remains the only protection for domestic animals. A tropical giant arrived to save the sugar cane. It all began in the 19th century, when sugar cane planters in the Caribbean sought a radical solution to curb the damage caused by beetles and various wood-boring worms on their crops. It was in this context that the cane toad (Rhinella marina), originally from Central America and South America, appeared, known for its voracious appetite and adaptability. According to data compiled by Karibiodiv, the species was introduced to Guadeloupe and several Caribbean islands at that time, in the hope that it would naturally solve the problem of agricultural pests. However, it was in the 1930s that this type of introduction experienced its scientific golden age. During this period, many researchers presented the cane toad as an ideal biological weapon, capable of replacing pesticides while preserving agricultural yields. This theory was so convincing that it pushed several Pacific countries to import the animal in large numbers during the same decade, with Australia leading the way, where the experiment would eventually turn into an ecological disaster in Queensland. In Guadeloupe, the result is just as disappointing: the beetles continue to invade the fields, while the toad thrives by feeding on everything it finds on its path, far beyond the originally targeted insects. Twenty centimeters of skin secreting a deadly poison. Physically, the cane toad is not unnoticed. With a size that can reach twenty centimeters in the most imposing individuals, it ranks among the largest toads in the world, far above the usual average of 10 to 15 centimeters observed in this species. Its thick, roughly warty skin gives it a nearly prehistoric appearance, reinforced by the presence of two large parotoid glands located just behind the eyes. These glands are not merely aesthetic growths: they secrete a substance called bufotoxin, a complex mixture of molecules that are both cardiotoxic and hallucinogenic. This formidable chemical weapon constitutes the main defense of the animal against its natural predators. In its original environment, several species have learned to be wary of it or have developed a certain resistance. But in Guadeloupe, as in other territories where it has been introduced, no local predator has had time to adapt to this toxin. Result: the cane toad proliferates without a real natural brake, permanently colonizing the island, just like Martinique, Florida, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, or even Hawaii. The invisible bite that kills in a few minutes. If the appearance of the cane toad may seem harmless at first glance, its toxicity represents a real danger, especially for pets. Mongooses, themselves introduced into Guadeloupe for other reasons, are not immune to this toxin. Dogs are not either. A simple bite, a curious licking, or even prolonged contact with the animal's skin is enough to trigger a severe poisoning, which can cause cardiac arrest or serious neurological disorders in just a few minutes. What makes this danger particularly insidious is its discretion. The venom remains active even when the toad simply swims in an outdoor water bowl or in a garden puddle, without necessarily coming into direct contact with the domestic animal. Dog owners living in Guadeloupe are thus advised to monitor wet areas, ponds, and stagnant water points especially carefully, particularly as night falls, a time when the cane toad is most active. A behavior that increases the risk further: unlike most frogs, this species does not hesitate to consume both live prey and carrion, which leads it to frequent areas that are sometimes unsuspected. Living alongside an invader that has become ineradicable. Almost a century after its introduction, the conclusion is clear: the cane toad is now an integral part of the Guadeloupean landscape, just like Martinique or other island territories affected by the same phenomenon. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies this species as of minor concern worldwide, a status that contrasts strongly with its documented invasive character everywhere it has been artificially introduced for agricultural reasons. This situation perfectly illustrates the limits of poorly anticipated biological control programs. Introduced to combat pests it ultimately fails to regulate effectively, the cane toad has become a major ecological problem, gradually eroding local biodiversity while representing a concrete health risk for domestic animals. Today, no simple solution exists to completely eradicate the species from the colonized territories, given its reproductive capacity and adaptability remain formidable. Faced with this ineradicable invader, caution remains the best protection tool, particularly for owners of domestic animals. This Guadeloupean story reminds us, in its own way, how human interventions in nature can have consequences very different from those originally imagined, and raises questions about the precautions to take before introducing a species, no matter how promising it may seem on paper.