Fear of toads (bufonophobia)

Bufonophobia is a fear of toads. It might mean dreading damp evenings when toads cross paths and roads, avoiding garden ponds, or feeling uneasy at a picture of warty skin. Some people fear being touched by one, while others are bothered by the old idea that handling toads causes warts.

About this phobia

The word comes from the Latin bufo, meaning toad, which is also the name of a toad genus. It is an uncommon fear with little clinical documentation of its own. It is closely related to ranidaphobia, the fear of frogs, and sits within the wider group of fears about amphibians and reptiles.

What it feels like

• Watching the ground closely on wet evenings or near ponds
• A shudder at the look of bumpy, warty skin
• Not wanting to touch anything a toad may have sat on

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

Can touching a toad give you warts?

No, that is an old myth. Human warts are caused by a virus passed between people, not by toads. Some toads do release substances from their skin that can irritate, so washing your hands after handling one is sensible.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

See all session options and prices