Invasive cane toads can threaten the health of your pets. If spotted in your backyard, the best practice is to catch them, treat them with an anesthetic and humanely euthanize them.
Miami Herald File
Poisonous toads that can kill your dog and mosquito swarms that can make you miserable, among other issues, make summers in Miami tougher to survive.
Here’s a roundup of top “Surviving Miami” stories to help you navigate the challenges of South Florida living:
- Toxic toads threaten pets: Cane toads secrete poisonous toxins from glands behind their eyes that can be fatal to dogs, who are more likely than cats to chase and catch the jumping amphibians during Miami’s rainy season, warns Zoo Miami’s Ron Magill. Pet owners should keep animals leashed, avoid leaving food outside and eliminate standing water.
- Pedestrian deaths climb: The Miami metro area ranks as the 17th most dangerous in the nation for pedestrians, with over 1,000 people struck by vehicles in Miami-Dade County in 2026 and nearly 30 killed, according to a new report on pedestrian safety. The county received over $20 million in federal funding to deliver 27 safety projects by 2040.
- World Cup booking scams surge: Airbnb blocked more than 250,000 suspicious listings in 2025 and is warning World Cup travelers about online booking scams, which have hit roughly 4 in 10 Americans with average losses near $2,000. The company urges fans to book, pay and communicate only through its platform.
- Trash bin rules carry real fines: Tossing garbage into a neighbor’s bin can be illegal in South Florida depending on the amount and type of waste, with fines in unincorporated Miami-Dade ranging from $250 to $2,500, under local trash disposal laws. Miami Beach hits first offenders with $500 fines and charges up to $4,000 for hazardous materials.
- Mosquito season peaks: Miami-Dade and Broward mosquito control divisions operate more than 300 traps weekly in the June-through-October peak season, with at least 29 travel-associated dengue cases reported in Florida so far this year, officials confirmed about the current pest surge. Residents are urged to dump standing water and wear EPA-registered repellent.
This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence and using our own originally reported, written and published content. It was reviewed and edited by our journalists.