Logan residents will join The Great Cane Toad Bust this month and help mitigate the devastating impacts of the toxic pests.
Cane toads are an invasive pest in Australia that cause widespread impacts due to their toxicity, massive appetite and prolific breeding rate.
Every year, cane toads cause declines in wildlife population, poison domestic pets and even impact local agriculture by eating bees and dung beetles.
The Great Cane Toad Bust, co-ordinated by Watergum Community, runs from 13 to 21 January.
Residents and families are encouraged to grab their “toad busting kit”- comprised of gloves, a torch and a bucket – and remove as many toads as possible.
Previous years have recorded the removal of more than 50,000 toads.
Watergum’s Invasive Species Project Officer Nikki Tomsett said it was very important to eliminate cane toads.
“Some studies show that cane toad busting can remove up roughly a third of the local cane toad population,” she said.
“A single female cane toad can produce up to 70,000 tadpoles a year, so we recommend removing adult toads and tadpoles to have the greatest impact.”
She said kicking off your cane toad control during the Great Cane Toad Bust was a great way to make a difference, but consistency was key to seeing results long term.
Cane toads are most active during warm summer months, so now is the perfect time to get involved.
“Toad busting might seem unconventional, but it’s immensely rewarding,” Ms Tomsett said.
“It’s important to practice humane euthanasia with cane toads.
“Remember, their presence here is a consequence of human intervention; they’re merely trying to survive, just like any other species.”
The most ethical method to euthanise toads, she said, was cooling and freezing.
The cooling and freezing method involves refrigerating toads for up to 24 hours before transferring them to a freezer.
“During this period of cooling, the toads will slip peacefully into torpor, which is a semi-comatose state, similar to hibernation,” the Watergum website says.
“When in torpor, cane toads are still alive but are unable to feel pain.
“This means that when they are frozen, they do not feel any pain and simply slip away.
“If cane toads are frozen instantly, they experience the pain caused by ice crystals forming in their veins, which can be significant.”
To learn more about the bust, email canetoads@watergum.org.
