Death to cane toads

[fclandy]

It's terrible the way cane toads destroy native wildlife and kill pets. Looks like this guy's got a solution.

If it's as good as claimed, maybe we could all chip in for a massive spraying campaign and obliterate this pest :) Or maybe everyone heading up Cape York, or visiting Kakadu just takes a couple of cans with them and hits every cane toad they come across.

http://www.theage.com.au/environment/spray-will-make-cane-toads-croak-20110221-1b2oa.html

[Ferret]

The above link

Cane Toad Spray (http://www.theage.com.au/environment/spray-will-make-cane-toads-croak-20110221-1b2oa.html)

Golf is always going to be more fun.

[adm333]

I saw it for sale in Bunnings the other day.

[crump]

not to be defeatist, but its a bit of shutting the gate after the horse has bolted.Unless a biological control can be found, I'm afraid we are stuck with them.Theres a lot of toads out there and individual spraying is going to be like erradicating the house fly with Mortein, not likely.As for the effect on native wildlife any possible extinctions from areas where toads already exist would have already happened, most species have learnt to avoid toads as if they dont, they die, call it fast evolution.Habitat degredation is more of a threat in the big picture, we may see species reduction in newly colonised areas as they learn to deal with toads, but given time these species numbers will pick up again.Dettol mixed 10:1 with water has the same effect and is a lot cheaper.

[isuzurover]

not to be defeatist, but its a bit of shutting the gate after the horse has bolted.Unless a biological control can be found, I'm afraid we are stuck with them.Theres a lot of toads out there and individual spraying is going to be like erradicating the house fly with Mortein, not likely.As for the effect on native wildlife any possible extinctions from areas where toads already exist would have already happened, most species have learnt to avoid toads as if they dont, they die, call it fast evolution.Habitat degredation is more of a threat in the big picture, we may see species reduction in newly colonised areas as they learn to deal with toads, but given time these species numbers will pick up again.Dettol mixed 10:1 with water has the same effect and is a lot cheaper.

What crump said. The chemical is basically the same as the active ingredient in dettol. You are basically buying dettol in a spray can.

One point - there have been no extinctions caused by cane toads.

[crump]

What crump said. The chemical is basically the same as the active ingredient in dettol. You are basically buying dettol in a spray can.

One point - there have been no extinctions caused by cane toads.
Maybe.The reduction and possible extinction of rainforest frog species, particulalry, Rheobatrachus, Nyctimysties, and Taudactylus, has been attributed to the Kitrid Fungus.I'd be interested to know whether the toad could have played a role in carrying this amphibian disease to these isolated populations? Do toads carry Kitrid?Come on all you zoologists, speak up?

[KarlB]

The total population size of Cane Toads in Australia is unknown but the common figure that is bandied around is 200 million. Their distribution is expanding and their numbers are increasing. If it is possible to eliminate them or even significantly reduce their numbers this will almost certainly be through a biological agent. For a good review of their ecological impact see http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/publications/cane-toad/pubs/cane-toad-impact.pdf. For an overview of how we might deal with them, you may like to have a look at the draft Threat Abatement Plan at http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/publications/cane-toad/pubs//cane-toad-tap-draft.pdf.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[KarlB]

[/B]
Maybe.The reduction and possible extinction of rainforest frog species, particulalry, Rheobatrachus, Nyctimysties, and Taudactylus, has been attributed to the Kitrid Fungus.I'd be interested to know whether the toad could have played a role in carrying this amphibian disease to these isolated populations? Do toads carry Kitrid?Come on all you zoologists, speak up?

Cane Toads are known to be infected by the chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) but they are relatively tolerant to the infection. The issues is more that they are carriers of the 'disease'.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[JohnF]

One point - there have been no extinctions caused by cane toads.

But If I have been informed correctly, some areas of Australia have practically no Red-belly black snakes left, as these feed on other more dangerous snakes [the Red-belly Black snake is unlikely to Kill an Adult human so are preferable to the Brown snakes, Tiger snakes, Rough scale snakes, etc., plus Tiapans, if you live in Queensland, etc. I have had a Red-Belly bite me, and other than Antihistimine got no treatment, but the bite hurts.], Red-belly Blacks also eating frogs & toads, And in cane toad areas they have almost been wiped out by eating cane toads, meaning more deadly snakes that do not feed on toads multiply without this cannibalistic predator to eat them. Of course the Red-belly also lives in areas where there are not yet cane toads so the species is abundant in these areas, so is not in danger of extinction, but in Cane-toad areas it is in danger of extinction. So bring on the Dettol spray I say.

[crump]

Cane Toads are known to be infected by the chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) but they are relatively tolerant to the infection. The issues is more that they are carriers of the 'disease'.

Cheers
KarlB
:)
I knew that spelling looked weird, thanks for the correction and info.

[Bundalene]

Our daughter & husband live in Arnhem Land and use Dettol spray (and sometimes shovels) to kill Cane Toads. They are a BIG pest up there.

Also, at a local school up in the area there is hole dug close to the building (it is for access to a water tap connection). From memory it is about one foot deep and if the cane toads jump/fall into the hole, they can't get out. Seems they can't jump as high as other frogs???

One year we were camped at Mataranka on the way up to Arnhem Land and were surprised to cop an earful from a "local" (Darwin person) when we killed some Cane toads on our way back to our camp.(We put the dead toads in the rubbish bins). My wife politely explained the environmental problems they were causing, but the guy still wasn't happy we were killing them.:confused:

[crump]

Cane Toads are known to be infected by the chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) but they are relatively tolerant to the infection. The issues is more that they are carriers of the 'disease'.

Cheers
KarlB
:)
so as carriers of chytrid, in your opinion, would you agree that friend Bufo has been a significant contibutor to wet tropic and SE Qld frog decline in the genuses mentioned? And if so do we have a winner as to a possible extinction in Rheobatrachus silus? Must be coming up on 30 years since last sighted.

[isuzurover]

so as carriers of chytrid, in your opinion, would you agree that friend Bufo has been a significant contibutor to wet tropic and SE Qld frog decline in the genuses mentioned? And if so do we have a winner as to a possible extinction in Rheobatrachus silus? Must be coming up on 30 years since last sighted.

A friend of mine has a PhD studying frogs and runs the native species breeding program at a major AU zoo (including some rare/endangered frog species). She was the person who told me no extinctions due to cane toads.

Many people believe that the anti-toad programs have had little/no effect for the expenditure.

[KarlB]

so as carriers of chytrid, in your opinion, would you agree that friend Bufo has been a significant contibutor to wet tropic and SE Qld frog decline in the genuses mentioned? And if so do we have a winner as to a possible extinction in Rheobatrachus silus? Must be coming up on 30 years since last sighted.
Rheobatrachus silus last recorded in the wild 1981 with last known speciemen dying in captivity in November 1983. Whether cane toads have played in a significant role in the demise of R. silus and other frogs is not something I would like to comment on other than to say 40% of all frog species world wide have suffered significant decline in recent years with many of them having have no association with cane toads, or occuring naturally with cane toads. You may like to have a look at the chytrid threat abatement plan and background report http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/pubs/chytrid-report.pdf, http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/pubs/chytrid-background.pdf and the National recovery plan for Stream Frogs of South-east Queensland 2001-2005 - Contents (http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/recovery/stream-frogs/index.html).

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[KarlB]

A friend of mine has a PhD studying frogs and runs the native species breeding program at a major AU zoo (including some rare/endangered frog species). She was the person who told me no extinctions due to cane toads.

Many people believe that the anti-toad programs have had little/no effect for the expenditure.

I don't think the issue is whether cane toads have caused any extinctions or not. It is amply clear that they are having a significant impact on the ecology of the areas in which they are abundant. There are also social and economic impacts.

As for expenditure, that has been largely directed towards research so it is to be expected that there would not yet be any impact on toad numbers. We clearly need something more than spray can Dettol to and golf clubs to get them under control, so we first need to find out how we do that. Otherwise, we will be just throwing money away on hare-brained schemes.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[ramblingboy42]

I see a simple answer here, there are approx 200 million cane toads in Australia. Our population is over 20 million. If we each go out and kill 10 cane toads we will have eridicated the problem.

[crump]

its even easier, just pollute every water source in the country to the point that no life can exist, including toad tadpoles and we're sweet.:D

[newhue]

car tyre, shovel, stick, boot what ever it takes to kill another dam cane toad and I'm there. Same with those Asian geckos.

I ride at night in local state forrest around Brisbane and it's mind blowing and disgusting the amount of cane toads in our bush lands.

An absolute disgrace from our Governments and Customs agencies.

[crump]

car tyre, shovel, stick, boot what ever it takes to kill another dam cane toad and I'm there. Same with those Asian geckos.

I ride at night in local state forrest around Brisbane and it's mind blowing and disgusting the amount of cane toads in our bush lands.

An absolute disgrace from our Governments and Customs agencies.
the Asian House gecko hasnt been proven to displace native species, its ecology seems closely tied to human habitation, (its not like Brissy houses were overun with Gehyra's before they surfaced.) My thought is to be thankful for the (semi) natural pest control.

[KarlB]

car tyre, shovel, stick, boot what ever it takes to kill another dam cane toad and I'm there. Same with those Asian geckos.

I ride at night in local state forrest around Brisbane and it's mind blowing and disgusting the amount of cane toads in our bush lands.

An absolute disgrace from our Governments and Customs agencies.

They were purposely introduced in 1935 to control cane beetles. Don't think you can blame Customs. The Federal Government at the time was a conservative coalition under PM Joseph Lyons.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[UncleHo]

If I remember correctly from my primary school days the Cacto-blastus beetle was another govt introduced species to eradicate the Prickly Pear, it did slow it down but the beetle found it preferred sugar cane stalks, so the Bufo-Marinus was introduced to eradicate the beetle, and, as they say the rest is history :( my appoligies to those in the know if my spelling of the species is incorrect ;)

[KarlB]

If I remember correctly from my primary school days the Cacto-blastus beetle was another govt introduced species to eradicate the Prickly Pear, it did slow it down but the beetle found it preferred sugar cane stalks, so the Bufo-Marinus was introduced to eradicate the beetle, and, as they say the rest is history :( my appoligies to those in the know if my spelling of the species is incorrect ;)

Your memory is fading UncleHo. You must be my age!

Cactoblastis cactorum is a moth, native to South America. The caterpillar feeds on Prickly Pear (and some other cactus species). Cane Beetles are a native species that go by the name of Dermolepida albohirtum. Their larvae are called Greyback Cane Grubs, and it is these that do the most damage to the cane. There is also another native, the Frenchi Cane Beetle, Lepidiota frenchi.

Cactoblastis use in Australia is lauded around the world as one of the great successes of biological control.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[UncleHo]

G'day KarlB :)

It probably is fading a bit, I left primary school Qld. in grade 8 scholarship year in 1957 so I am an old fogie now :D

See what happens when you are 14 and not interested in listening, more interested in discovering girls.

cheers

[wardy1]

The latter part of this thread reminds me of a song we used to sing with the kids on bush trips......
I knew an old lady who swallowed a fly.......

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

[newhue]

the Asian House gecko hasnt been proven to displace native species, its ecology seems closely tied to human habitation, (its not like Brissy houses were overun with Gehyra's before they surfaced.) My thought is to be thankful for the (semi) natural pest control.

Perhaps, but as a basic observer, if the asian gecko is quite prolific around my house here in Oxley, Brisbane, it has to be surviving on what other insect eating species are or were.
I have one Aussie Gecko in the garage, and 15+ asians gecko all over the place. Haven seen a Huntsman spider in yonks, don't seem to have too many brown little garden lizards either.
May be a bad simplistic observation, but something is eating them, cause I'm not nuking them with pestersides.

[F4Phantom]

I see a simple answer here, there are approx 200 million cane toads in Australia. Our population is over 20 million. If we each go out and kill 10 cane toads we will have eridicated the problem.

thats a great idea, but many of us dont live near cane toads, can you come up with a figure for how many toads need killing per person for only those who live near toads?

[pfillery]

We get the little (or in the case of the one last night, big) buggers using our dog's water bowl as a nice little swimming pool. Every so often the dog would have an off day, be off her food and then we busted the toads coming out from behind the air conditioner outdoor unit, swimming in the dog water bowl and taking off as soon as the patio light goes on.

We mucked around with a few different methods for killing them. Freeze spray, the type you use on an injury works well but isn't cheap. Another of our favourites is a throwing knife, I'm getting pretty good but it is messy to clean up and the buggers just won't die. But then we tried the spray we use to stop the dog chewing herself when she itches. All it is made from is tea tree oil mixed with water and applied using a spray bottle. Must have similar properties to dettol but in a stronger dose. Hit them with a couple of squirts and they are down for the count in a few seconds for an immature one and under a minute for a big one with harder skin. Cheap to buy, harmless and a bottle lasts a lot longer than a can. About $7 from coles, $2 spray bottle and a 200ml bottle of tea tree oil mixes up to about 5 or 10 spray bottles full which lasts forever.

Have to say the throwing knife is still fun every so often.:angel:

[pfillery]

I see a simple answer here, there are approx 200 million cane toads in Australia. Our population is over 20 million. If we each go out and kill 10 cane toads we will have eridicated the problem.

I probably kill that many in a week.

[KarlB]

the Asian House gecko hasnt been proven to displace native species, its ecology seems closely tied to human habitation, (its not like Brissy houses were overun with Gehyra's before they surfaced.) My thought is to be thankful for the (semi) natural pest control.

I would suggest that the Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) is a species we need to be very concerned about. The attached paper (HOSKIN, C.J. (2010) The invasion and potential impact of the Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) in Australia. Austral Ecology) is worth a read on the issue.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[wrinklearthur]

I see a simple answer here, there are approx 200 million cane toads in Australia. Our population is over 20 million. If we each go out and kill 10 cane toads we will have eridicated the problem.
Hi Ramblingboy42

Tassie has no Cane toads yet, so it is a bit awkward over here to obtain 5 million Cane toads to kill. :twisted:

Cheers Arthur

[isuzurover]

Hi Ramblingboy42

Tassie has no Cane toads yet, so it is a bit awkward over here to obtain 5 million Cane toads to kill. :twisted:

Cheers Arthur

WA, SA, VIC also have no cane toads, NSW also has very few south of the cane growing areas. So most of the population of 200m +/- 100m would need to be despatched by queenslanders. Including all tadpoles and eggs to stop them repopulating, and including all toads in inaccessable/impenetrable areas....



Karl - agree with all you have said, however - since no species have become extinct then they can repopulate if and when cane toads are eradicated (unlikely IMO).

WA especially has spent large amounts of money trying to keep toads out.

EDIT:

This refers to manual eradication programs such as "toadbusters" in the kimberley.


The Australian Government has delivered funding to some of these groups through the Caring for our Country initiative as part of a $2 million commitment on cane toads. Independent assessment of these projects has shown no evidence that the spread of the toads has been slowed in the WA/NT border region.

The federal government haven't contributed much, however the (WA) state government and the community have contributed large amounts of money, which has had no effect on toad populations or the spread of toads.


The bottom line is:
Whilst playing cricket or golf with toads is theraputic, don't fool yourself that you are having any influence on toad populations.

[Disco44]

In cold winter areas like Ipswich and Toowoomba etc,they get severally knocked back by the low tempatures. I've seen a noticeable decline in my area,the same with the Asian Gecko.But all of this is no help what-so-ever to the north where it looks like a biological control is the only way but when.

[adm333]

We have introduced an English Cocker Spaniel to keep the Asian gecko and lizard population down.

We didn't plan it, but that's how its turning out.

:D

[crump]

I would suggest that the Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) is a species we need to be very concerned about. The attached paper (HOSKIN, C.J. (2010) The invasion and potential impact of the Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) in Australia. Austral Ecology) is worth a read on the issue.

Cheers
KarlB
:)
Swanson in 1974 commented on its ability to rapidly colonise in the top end and yet the paper attached is written in 2010? I remember catching individuals off brick crates in Eagle Farm circa 1980 and taking to the museum for a positive id, and they had no interest.I always find it amusing that a research paper about the impact potential of species seems to be written well after the horse has well and truly bolted and control is near impossible.Perhaps, if the assembled goverment funded academia sourced funding for research of the nature of the attached, rather than to ascertain how many times a Carphodactylus laevis tail will squeak once detached or how much cotton you can run off a Hypsilurus boydii's back, these problems may be identified before its too late to do anything.No offence intended, just my observation.Oh and as for H.frenatus looks like we are well and truly stuck with him as well, seems the toad taught us nothing.:angel:

[newhue]

So how do we have a crack at asian gecko's. I have found moretien has no effect, unless you use it like a flame thrower. The rubber thong is at least a two or three thump application for a successful kill; made all the harder as they are very fast and timid buggers.

Does anyone have a Gecko spray concoction like the cain toad mix?

[F4Phantom]

Study finds fences thwart cane toad › News in Science (ABC Science) (http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2011/02/23/3146570.htm'site=science&topic=enviro)

[wrinklearthur]

Study finds fences thwart cane toad › News in Science (ABC Science) (http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2011/02/23/3146570.htm'site=science&topic=enviro)
Hi All
So fencing the cane toads from their favorite watering hole is the answer? ;)
Now to take this idea a step further, and they then will be making movies about the lonely, cane toad, fencer riding off into the sunset, singing " toad hide ". :wasntme:
Cheers Arthur

[Sprint]

my favourite way to deal with them involves a can of brake cleaner and a lighter

[Chucaro]

Who remember Baz?

baz the toad

[bsperka]

WA, SA, VIC also have no cane toads.

Kimberly area to Kununurra definitely now has cane toads. The WA government is trying to control their spread. The recent floods will help their spread, depending on where the water goes.

[cjc_td5]

Kimberly area to Kununurra definitely has cane toads. The WA government is trying to control their spread. The recent floods will help their spread, depending on where the water goes.

Isuzurovers' post was written in 2011, when apart from perhaps a few advanced parties, the cane toads had not reached the Kimberley yet. Unfortunately they are now well entrenched in the eastern Kimberley and heading southwest.

[bsperka]

Isuzurovers' post was written in 2011, when apart from perhaps a few advanced parties, the cane toads had not reached the Kimberley yet. Unfortunately they are now well entrenched in the eastern Kimberley and heading southwest.

Fair enough. Didn't check the post date...

[V8Ian]

So how do we have a crack at asian gecko's. I have found moretien has no effect, unless you use it like a flame thrower. The rubber thong is at least a two or three thump application for a successful kill; made all the harder as they are very fast and timid buggers.

Does anyone have a Gecko spray concoction like the cain toad mix?
Sticky mats.

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=sticky+insect+traps&oq=sticky+insect&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l5.20391j0j4&sourceid=chrome&espv=2&es_sm=122&ie=UTF-8

[Saitch]

Rubber bands. They break in half like a Sao!
By the way, just be careful with the Dettol stuff, as it's residual & if frogs come in contact with the sprayed area they're as dead as a toad.
Also, make certain what you have in your sights really is a toad & not a pobblebonk, pictured below!

[jamesnedtaylor]

I found one the other day whilst cutting the grass well I rekone it was a cane couldn't tell much after running over it :)