 Initial releases into Florida failed . Attempted introductions before 1936 and 1944 , intended to control sugarcane pests , were unsuccessful as the toads failed to proliferate . Later attempts failed in the same way . However , the toad gained a foothold in the state after an accidental release by an importer at Miami International Airport in 1957 , and deliberate releases by animal dealers in 1963 and 1964 established the toad in other parts of Florida . Today , the cane toad is well established in the state , from the Keys to north of Tampa , and they are gradually extending further northward . In Florida , the toad is a regarded as a threat to native species and pets ; so much so , the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recommends residents kill them . 
