How To:
Control Cane Toads
Cane toads are an invasive pest causing significant ecological issues in Queensland. Here are some tips, tricks and products to help you minimise their impact on your property.
Cane toads were first introduced to Queensland in 1935 in a misguided attempt to control a beetle that was damaging sugar cane crops. Unfortunately this failed, as the beetles spent their time high up the sugar cane stalks where the toads couldn’t even reach them! However, the toad quickly adapted to local conditions, and without many native predators or diseases to slow them down (due to their toxic glands), they bred and spread rapidly.
The reign of the cane toad, and its vorocious appetite, has seen a decline in populations of carnivorous native wildlife (though some have now adapted aversion or foraging tactics to avoid poisoning), and reduced the amount of food available to native frogs. Whilst complete eradication of the toad is now likely to be impossible, there are control measures we can all take to reduce their numbers in our local areas.
Managing Adult Cane Toads
Cane toads may be pests but they are still living creatures that can feel pain. Mass cane toad control should be left to sanctioned government and community programs, however here is a commonly recommended method for humanely euthanising a toad found on your property:
1) Ensure you have correctly identified that it is a toad (see our diagram), there are some native frogs that are brown and have lumps and bumps (you don’t want to accidentally harm those!);
2) Pick the toad up and place it in a plastic bag or container;
3) Place in a refrigerator and leave for 12 hours (to anaesthetise it);
4) Then place in a freezer for at least 24 hours (to painlessly euthanise the toad);
5) Dispose of the toad in your wheelie bin or bury it deep enough in the garden that animals can’t dig it up easily.
Make sure to use thick gardening gloves when handling toads and to wash your hands after each step of this process!
Removing Cane Toad Tadpoles
Cane toads love breeding in sun exposed, warm, shallow water with temperatures above 24 degrees celsius. They also tend to be a bit lazy and prefer to hang around water bodies with short grass/turf surrounding it, so they don’t have to jump or climb in/out (which is why you will see so many at golf courses). If you have water bodies such as dams or ponds on your property, planting the edges of these out with thick native sedges and grasses can help you keep toads out.
However, if you do find yourself inundated with cane toad tadpoles come peak breeding season (generally throughout Spring/Summer), we have found that the Watergum Cane Toad Tadpole Traps are an excellent tool for removing hundreds or even thousands of tadpoles at a time! Check out the video below of our experience experimenting with the Watergum trap.
If you are based on the Sunshine Coast, Watergum traps and lures can be purchased from us via our online shop (see links below), and collected from our office in Yandina. They are also available directly from Watergum or their other authorised resellers. You can visit the Watergum website for their excellent resource on identifying cane toads tadpoles and eggs vs those of native frogs and the science behind their traps.
Identifying and Disposing of Cane Toad Eggs
Cane toad eggs are somewhat distinctive in appearance from most native frog eggs, due to their long, gelatinous strands. The eggs can generally be found anywhere that freshwater is pooling, particularly where there is plenty of sun or warmth and ease of accessibility (e.g. turf lined dams). Tadpoles emerge within 2-3 days after eggs are laid so you will want to act quickly to remove them. Eggs can simply be scooped out of the water body (using thick, waterproof gloves and a net or bucket), and disposed of wrapped up in general waste. As the eggs are toxic to ingest, for the safety of pets and wildlife, we do not recommend leave them lying outside to dry out first. Remember to wash your hands afterwards!
Toads got you hopping mad?
A Watergum Cane Toad Tadpole trap may be your answer. Watch the trap in action below with our Community Engagement Officer, Trevor Morrison
Watergum Cane Toad Tadpole Trap and Lure Pack
Includes: 1 x Watergum Trap Container + 1 x Lure Pack (contains 5 lures and usage instructions).
$75.00 inc. GST
In stock
Watergum Cane Toad Tadpole Lure Pack
Includes: 1 x Lure Pack (contains 5 lures and usage instructions), for use with a Watergum Trap (not included).
$25.00 inc. GST
In stock
Remove cane toad tadpoles from water bodies on your property, such as dams, creeks and ponds with the Watergum Trap and Lure Pack. Simply place the trap in the water (with a lure inside), near a swarm of cane toad tadpoles, for 4- 8 hours. The tadpoles are attracted to the lure and will become trapped, making it easy for you to then remove them from the water body and euthanise.
The active ingredient in the lure is a pheromone that only attracts cane toads. Each lure can be used for between 4-6 trapping sessions if rinsed with freshwater, dried out and returned to the sealed packaging after each use. The lure does not impact on waterway health or native frog species.
100% Australian made by Watergum, a not for profit organisation based on the Gold Coast.