Residents urged to join annual event to reduce cane toad numbers
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Redland City Council is encouraging property owners to help make a dent in the local cane toad population by joining this year’s Great Cane Toad Bust.
Mayor Karen Williams said the event, from 13 to 21 January 2024, gave residents an opportunity to do their bit to reduce numbers of the invasive pest.
“Cane toads wreak havoc on our natural environment and wildlife and pose a toxic risk to humans and domestic animals,” Cr Williams said.
“Queensland’s Biosecurity Act requires us all to know about and manage biosecurity risks, such as cane toads, on our properties.
“Unfortunately, we are seeing a large number of toadlets due to recent rain so now is the perfect time to toad bust on your property.”
Council is participating in the Bust for the third year, hosting a fully-booked community workshop followed by a cane toad busting evening in Capalaba.
“Our last two annual events made a real impact, with more than 2000 toads removed from the environment,” Cr Williams said.
A large toad.Council has been working with private property owners for 24 years through the Environmental Partnerships Programs, implementing a four-stage control program to help reduce cane toad and tadpole numbers and increase frog habitat and frog numbers.
The program includes creating thick planted barriers to prevent cane toads from breeding in waterways and waterbodies, and regular collection and disposal of cane toad eggs, tadpoles and adult toads.
“For the past three years Council has also been purchasing and loaning out Toadinator traps to Environmental Partnership’s landholders with great success – one participant collected more than 200 cane toads in one night,” Cr Williams said.
“Cane toads are continuing to spread and they have very few natural predators, so we all need to work together and reduce the numbers of cane toads in our own backyards.”
Residents participating in the Great Cane Toad Bust are encouraged to record the number of cane toads and tadpoles collected before disposing of them humanely. Cooling in a fridge for 24-48 hours, followed by freezing for 24-48 hours and disposal on bin day is one method of humane disposal.
Cane toads have poisonous glands, so appropriate personal protective equipment should be used.
For more information on the Great Cane Toad Bust, including where you can dispose of them locally if you don’t have an available fridge/freezer, how to register and submit data, visit watergum.org/greatcanetoadbust/