Hotter weather means an annual war has begun, with canetoad busters launching their annual battle against the influx of the menace which can lay millions of eggs in a season.
Environmental not-for-profit organisation Watergum is leading the toad-busting charge with education sessions that starts today (Monday) in Park Ridge.
The mission is to teach people how to trap tadpoles on their own properties.
“If we work together we can reduce the impact of the invasive cane toad and reclaim habitat for native species,” Watergum president Walter Mayr said.
Local organiser for the group Emily Vincent said: “Last season Logan residents collectively removed 14,731 toads from the environment. Since each female cane toad can lay up to 70,000 eggs in one year, this effort prevented up to 170 million future cane toads from entering our environment.”
Local residents can be part of the solution by attending free educational sessions, joining community toad busting activities and trapping tadpoles on their own properties over coming weeks.
Watergum claims to be a “leader in the field offering detailed education, fun events and cane toad control solutions at every life stage”.
Information sessions are designed to teach people how to control cane toads and trap tadpoles.
They’re expecting to sell cane toad tadpole traps and lures at local stores, designed to be used in dams, creeks and ponds.
“When used correctly, the traps can catch thousands of tadpoles at once,” the organisation said.
“Toad busting is currently the most successful form of cane toad control and is a fun activity for the whole family.
“Last year’s events were vibrant and successful; during one event, community members collected over 600 toads in one hour.
“Watergum challenged Logan residents to collect even more cane toads this time in order to impact cane toad breeding cycles for the next season.”
In the new year, there will be several community toad busting events in the region.
There will be sessions at Berrinba Wetlands on January 25, Spring Mountain Reserve at Greenbank on February 4, and Mundoolun Park on February 17. Each session is from 6.15pm-8.15pm. See “watergumcanetoads” on Facebook, or email canetoads@watergum.org.
