THE march of the cane toad appears unrelenting as the feral species Bufo Marinus continues its slow and steady trek, from Queensland, both south and west.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Last week, the Federal Member for Shortland Pat Conroy chaired a House Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy public inquiry into controlling the spread of cane toads.
Mr Conroy said the inquiry was about getting an up to date picture of the best methods to control cane toads, which are now “moving across four states and territories.”
“The main impact is on bio-diversity, killing flora and fauna,” Mr Conroy said. “At a local level, market gardeners would be impacted, and I can’t imagine they are particularly friendly to wine-makers either.
“Also people’s dogs, a lot of people’s dogs die from eating them.”
The cane toad has venom secreting glands which release poison whenever the animal feels threatened.
So far, the committee has heard from experts who have advised the spread of cane toads could be controlled.
“The scientific experts we spoke to are optimistic we can halt their spread … through a combination of trapping, genetic modification or biological control,” Mr Conroy said.
Two populations of cane toads are moving across Australia, from Queensland.
According to Macquaire University's evolutionary biologist and ecologist Professor Rick Shine, the western bound population is moving at a rate of 50-60km per year, but their pace is accelerating.
The south bound population is moving much more slowly.
"We are not sure why, but they are moving at a rate of 2-3km per year," Prof Shine said.
He said the main threat to Newcastle and the Hunter Valley were hitchhiking cane toads, of which there have already been reports.
"Cane toads hitch in the back of trucks and create satellite populations," Prof Shine said.
"Newcastle and the Central Coast are certainly warm enough for them to turn up and breed.
“And we know they are getting better with dealing with cooler climates."
The main southbound knot of toads is currently at Brooms Head, about 500km north of Newcastle.
Prof Shine said cane toads were easily mistaken for several species of large native frogs, and for this reason anyone who finds one should call National Parks and Wildlife rather than destroying the animal.
"Don't kill it. The vast majority are native frogs," he said. "Pop it in a bucket and National Parks can work it out."
The cane toad was introduced in June 1935.
