Why are wild-caught toads generally considered an ill-advised food source for captive Western Hognose Snakes?

Potential parasite loads, disease transmission, and inconsistent sourcing

Despite the Western Hognose Snake's evolved ability to neutralize certain toxins present in toads, feeding wild-caught specimens to captive snakes presents significant welfare risks unrelated to the snake's innate defense mechanisms. The primary concerns revolve around health risks associated with wild collection, specifically the high likelihood of transferring internal parasites to the captive environment, the potential introduction of various diseases that the captive snake may have no immunity against, and the sheer logistical difficulty of reliably sourcing wild toads consistently enough to maintain a stable captive diet regimen. This combination of factors strongly favors the transition to commercially prepared, controlled prey items.