HORSEHEADS, N.Y. (WENY) -- Molasses is an animal ambassador at the Tanglewood Nature Center and is native to Central and South America. The cane toad is considered an invasive species. 

Ryan Donnelly, marketer, educator, and camp co-director at the nature center says she is one the largest species of toads and adapts to her environment well.  

“She has a lot of defenses that help out with her predators because some animals like crows [would] like to eat her,” adding “she has these two large sacks right behind her eyes and those have poison in them. So, if an animal was to try to come up and make a meal out of her, they would get kind of a nasty surprise right there.”  

This species cannot be found within New York State as the winters here are considered too cold for them and are found in warmer weathers like Florida or Australia. However, their lifespan can reach up to 15 years.  

With the upcoming solar eclipse on April 8, Donnelly says this natural event can cause different animals to respond differently.  

“Molasses here, like some other frogs, what they'll usually do is they will kind of think that since it's getting dark, it must be nighttime. So, they should come out and they start doing their kind of nocturnal vocalizations to kind of find other frogs.” 

Donnelly also says they have officially sold out their “Eclipse Party” being held on April 8, where people will be working on educational projects, learning how it affects different animals, and have the opportunity to view the astral event.  

The Tanglewood Nature Center will also be hosting their “Day of Giving” on April 23rd and will accept donations to support their program.