Exotic Animals
Cane Toads
Residents in other parts of Australia have been living with cane toads for many years. This information is for people in Darwin and rural communities to give an idea of what to expect when the toads arrive.
History
Cane toads were introduced to Australia in the 1930's from Central and South America to control the cane beetle.
Habitat
Cane toads can exist in many different habitats but must have water available to breed. During the Dry Season, toads remain inactive in shallow burrows under the ground, or in clusters under logs, rocks or sheets of iron, etc. They are mainly nocturnal. Cane toads can also survive for periods in sea water. There are accounts of adult cane toads swimming at sea in Bermuda, Mexico and Jamaica. They have been similarly sighted swimming in the McArthur estuary in the Gulf country of the NT and may have colonised Kangaroo Island (NT) in this way.
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Life Cycle
Toads are prolific breeders compared to native frogs. They can breed twice a year and lay 10-20,000 eggs each breeding. Their eggs can hatch in 2 days and look different to frogs eggs as they are laid in thin strands of clear jelly.
The cane toad tadpole is much smaller than native tadpoles. Eggs, tadpoles and toadlets are all toxic, but only some animals die when they eat them.
The Impact of Cane Toads
The main threat from cane toads is from poisoning predators that eat them. Even the tadpoles are poisonous so the range of possible victims includes fish, crocodiles, snakes, goannas, quolls and egrets. In parts of Queensland, populations of some of these animals were dramatically reduced when cane toads arrived, although it seems that most eventually recover. We are unsure whether cane toads also compete with, and so reduce the populations of native frogs.
Cane toad eggs should be removed from pools of water and placed in the sun to dry out
 Cane Toad - Marble Frog |
Natives vs Toads
One of the main functions that Parks and Wildlife are involved in is educating the public about toads. There are 3 important steps to follow if you think you have found a toad.
CANE TOAD MARBLE FROG
- Identify the animal.
In the last 5 years, our officers have been called on to identify many suspected cane toads sighted in Darwin. 95% of these animals were identified as Marbled Frogs or other native species. Some of these native frogs had been killed. People from interstate have never seen Marbled Frogs, a common Darwin native species and their warty appearance and large size fools many people. Please be sure that you really do have a cane toad before killing it.
- Use a safe method to collect the toad.
Cane toads are toxic. The source of the toxins is a large gland on the back of the neck. It is only toxic if ingested or rubbed into eyes. The toxin exudes over the toad's skin, it does not spurt out. Use two plastic shopping bags, or something similar to pick up the toad. Turn the bags inside out, grab the toad, turn the bags the correct way round again, tie the bags tightly and you'll have safely bagged your toad.
- Disposing of the toad.
We have all heard stories of how people in other places kill cane toads. The most humane method of disposing of toads is to place your double-bagged toad in the freezer overnight.
Summary
Cane toads are coming. They are fat, ugly and poisonous. They don't belong in Australia and they will harm our pets and native wildlife, but please remember they are still living creatures and feel pain too.
So remember, identify the animal, safely collect the adult toads and dispose of them humanely. Any eggs found should be removed from pools of water and destroyed.
The Parks and Wildlife Service is committed to the manangement of feral animals in the Northern Territory. For this reason, the Northern Territory Government provides considerable funding to Frogwatch each year to assist in community cane toad managment. For more information and identification advice, call Frogwatch on 0411 881 378 or go to www.frogwatch.org.au
Information Sheets
- Cane toads: the facts pamphlet (PDF 682KB)
- Making your yard a toad-free zone (PDF 834KB)
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