Toads in a Hole?

I know they're itchy (believe me I know!) but I didn't realize fungal infections could kill animals.

clipped from news.yahoo.com LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's toad population could face extinction in some areas within 10 years due to an infectious fungal disease, scientists said on Wednesday. Deadly Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis was introduced to Britain with the release of non-native North American bullfrogs. They have since been exterminated but the disease remains. The big unknown is just how long the fungus, which lives on the skin of host amphibians, can survive on its own in water. Scientists fear it may be a very long time. The disease has already destroyed entire amphibian populations in Central and South America, and Australia, and is a growing problem in some parts of Europe. Scientists have linked its spread to global warming. Luckily, the common British frog (Rana temporaria) is resistant to the disease.

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