Western Australia braced for poisonous cane toad invasion

Why cane toads are such a problem In Australia, cane toads have no natural enemies. Their toxin can kill most native animals that normally eat frogs. They therefore pose a major risk to native fauna. Cane toads can use a wide variety of habitats and thrive in urban and disturbed areas. They have a voracious appetite and can eat a lot of different foods. They also breed quickly, allowing them to rapidly colonise and dominate an area. These abilities give cane toads a competitive advantage over native species. Native frogs control insects that may otherwise become pests and are in turn food for many native animals. Populations of many native frogs have declined severely in recent times and some species are threatened with extinction. Spread of the cane toad may increase these threats. Courtesy of the Kimberley Toad Busters

November 2009. The Australia's Kimberley region is preparing for its first wet season since cane toads crossed the Western Australian border with the Northern Territories earlier this year. The cane toad frontline is currently about 30km east of Kununurra, with breeding populations established on the north-eastern shore of Lake Argyle.

Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) officer Corrin Everitt said the northern monsoonal season, which generally occurs between December and April, was likely to have a significant impact on the movement of the cane toad frontline.

Female lays 30,000 eggs
Ms Everitt said "The wet season provides cane toads with ideal conditions for movement and colonisation of new areas. Given past rates of movement it is anticipated that cane toads are likely to reach Kununurra before the end of the wet season. Also during these optimal conditions for toads, a single female can lay up to 30,000 eggs, which is why they are listed as one of the world's worst invasive species."

Ms Everitt said while research continued into a long-term effective cane toad management solution, coordinated action was needed to ensure that Western Australian communities were prepared for the spread of cane toads.

She added "During this wet season we will carry out surveillance work to monitor and map cane toad populations at the frontline. We will also continue to work with community groups to develop and implement action plans for priority areas and cane toad education awareness in local communities. The DEC cane toad team will also be carrying out localised cane toad control in high priority areas, for example, sites in Purnululu and Mirima national parks, as the need arises."

In October, the State Government released the Final Cane Toad Strategy for Western Australia 2009-19 which sets out aims and actions to manage cane toads. To view the document or for more information about cane toads visit www.dec.wa.gov.au/canetoads.