Exploding toads confuse scientists
{{date|April 29, 2005}}

Scientists in [[Hamburg]], [[Germany]] are baffled by what appears to be a widespread case of "Exploding {{w|toad|toads}}". In a local pond, more than 1,000 toads have expanded and then exploded. In addition, it has been reported that thousands more are exploding in central [[Denmark]], in a town called {{w|Låsby}} located in {{w|Mid-Jutland}}.

The water in the pond has been checked, but does not indicate anything out of the ordinary. Neither do the toad's corpses. They have been checked for [[w:bacteria|bacteria]] and [[w:virus|viruses]], but none have been found.

One German scientist is theorizing that the toads are being terrorized by {{w:crow|crows}} who attempt to peck at the toads' {{w|liver|livers}}. When the crows go for the livers, the toads puff up as a defense mechanism. Since there is a hole in the toad's body caused by the pecking crow, the entrails and blood explode out of the hole.

German tabloids have taken to calling the pond, "the death pool" and "the pond of death".

==Sources==

*{{source|author=
|url=http://freeinternetpress.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3473
|title=TOAD UPDATE: Toads Exploding In Denmark, Too
|pub=Free Internet Press
|date=April 27, 2005}}
*{{source|author=[[Associated Press|AP]]
|url=http://www.startribune.com/stories/1451/5374639.html
|title=*POP* go the toads, and nobody knows why
|pub=Michigan Star-Tribune
|date=April 28, 2005}}
*{{source|author=Matt Surman
|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20050428-1231-explodingtoads.html
|title=Exploding toads may have been pecked by birds for their livers, veterinarian says
|pub=SignonSanDiego.com
|date=April 28, 2005}}

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[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Germany]]
[[Category:Hamburg]]
[[Category:Denmark]]
[[Category:Science and technology]]
[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:Wackynews]]
Scientists in Hamburg, Germany are baffled by what appears to be a widespread case of "Exploding toads". In a local pond, more than 1,000 toads have expanded and then exploded. In addition, it has been reported that thousands more are exploding in central Denmark, in a town called Mid-Jutland.

The water in the pond has been checked, but does not indicate anything out of the ordinary. Neither do the toad's corpses. They have been checked for bacteria and viruses, but none have been found.

One German scientist is theorizing that the toads are being terrorized by  who attempt to peck at the toads' livers. When the crows go for the livers, the toads puff up as a defense mechanism. Since there is a hole in the toad's body caused by the pecking crow, the entrails and blood explode out of the hole.

German tabloids have taken to calling the pond, "the death pool" and "the pond of death".
Europe Germany Hamburg Denmark Science and technology Biology Wackynews