WHERE THE HELL DID ALL THE HORNY TOADS GO!? 🦎🤠
If you grew up in Texas, there's a good chance you remember seeing horny toads everywhere. These strange little prehistoric-looking creatures were practically a part of growing up in the Lone Star State. But somewhere along the way, they started disappearing.
And now, the San Antonio Zoo is trying to bring them back!
On October 26, 2026, the San Antonio Zoo and Zoo Miami released 55 Texas horned lizards back into the wild as part of an ongoing conservation effort to restore one of Texas's most beloved native animals.
But what happened to them in the first place?
In this video, we're taking a look at the remarkable Texas horned lizard, the threats that have devastated its population, and the efforts underway to save it from disappearing altogether.
We'll talk about habitat destruction, pesticides, invasive fire ants, and why an animal that once seemed to be everywhere has become increasingly difficult to find.
And yes, we'll also discuss why people used to keep them as pets, despite the fact that horny toads are absolutely terrible candidates for domestication.
These little guys have been the official state reptile of Texas since 1993. And honestly, they deserve better than to disappear while the state is busy building another Buc-ee's.
🦎 Have you ever seen a horny toad in the wild? When was the last time? Tell me in the comments! I'm particularly interested in hearing from Texans who remember seeing them everywhere when they were kids.
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📰 SOURCES
KSAT 12 — San Antonio Zoo and Zoo Miami Release 55 Texas Horned Lizards:
https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2026/10/29/san-antonio-zoo-zoo-miami-release-55-texas-horned-lizards-into-the-wild/
San Antonio Current — Conservation Program Releases More Horned Lizards:
https://www.sacurrent.com/news/san-antonio-zoo-conservation-program-releases-more-texas-horned-lizards-into-the-wild/
San Antonio Zoo — Texas Horned Lizard Reintroduction Project:
https://sazoo.org/
Association of Zoos and Aquariums — Reintroduced Horned Lizards Found Thriving:
https://www.aza.org/connect-stories/stories/san-antonio-zoo-celebrates-as-reintroduced-horny-toads-are-found-thriving-in-the-wild
#HornyToad #TexasHornedLizard #SanAntonioZoo #WildlifeConservation #TexasWildlife #ThreatenedSpecies #WildlifeNews #TexasHistory #FreeTheHornyToads #MakeTexasHornyAgain
0:00 Childhood memories
1:16 Conservation efforts
2:06 Biology and defenses
3:45 Challenges to survival
5:11 Restoration strategies
6:20 Reflections and legacy
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