STOP TOADS IN THEIR SACS
THE Gold Coast is bracing for a cane toad explosion this summer as the wet weather fuels breeding numbers. Experts are calling on Gold Coasters to help prevent a poisonous population outbreak, saying the easiest and most humane way to eliminate the pest i
GOLD Coasters can help prevent a poisonous population explosion this summer as wet weather creates perfect conditions for hatching cane toads.
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary senior veterinarian Dr Michael Pyne said the easiest and most humane way to eliminate cane toads was at their egg stage.
“Cane toads have very distinctive eggs that are easy to identify from frogs and other toads,” he said.
“Once they hatch out, they can be hard to differentiate. As an egg, you can pick it.”
While Australian frogs lay their eggs in clumps, toad eggs are stranded – and in the case of cane toads, double stranded.
Because they only take 24 to 48 hours to hatch in warm weather, people are advised to check their pools and ponds daily for eggs, which look like small black blobs stuck together in clear jelly.
The eggs sometimes appear clumped, but the strands untangle if you pick them up with a stick. Any eggs removed from water can be disposed of in compost bins, buried in the garden or left to dry in the sun.
Australian Veterinary Association president Dr Paula Parker said while cane toads were a threat to pets all year round, they were particularly dangerous after heavy rain as thousands of bite-sized baby toads start to emerge.
She said cane toad poisoning could be deadly for pets.
“Waterways are a part of our life on the Coast, so cane toads are common,” she said.
“Local veterinary clinics see many cases of cane toad poisoning, particularly in the early evening, early morning and after rain. We encourage pet owners to be vigilant, particularly in times of heavy rain.”
Dr Parker said it was common for dogs that hadn’t touched toads for a long period of time to suddenly take an interest in them, often with deadly results.
“Toads are more active in the evening and at night, so owners need to be especially vigilant at those times. We recommend restricting your pet’s access to the garden at night.”
Dr Parker said hyper-salivation was one of the first signs of cane toad poisoning.
“If you suspect that your pet has eaten a toad, you should repeatedly wipe all over your pet’s gums with a clean, wet chux to clear the toxins away and then contact your local veterinarian,” she said. “We don’t recommend using a hose to clean your pet’s gums as it is not uncommon for the water to go down the wrong hole.”
The most humane way to kill juvenile and adult cane toads is to catch them, put them in a plastic container with air holes and freeze them.