Cane Toads

Invasive animal under Queensland’s Biosecurity Act 2014

Originally introduced to control cane beetles in Queensland (an unsuccessful venture), the cane toad has since become a serious pest, threatening the survival of 75 native species of lizard, crocodile and freshwater turtle.

Poisonous at all stages of their life, cane toads kill many animals that attempt to eat them. Cane toads also eat many native insects, frogs, reptiles and other small animals which significantly reduces native animal populations. Because of this, cane toads are listed as a key threatening process under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Reducing cane toad numbers is essential to protect Australia’s wildlife. Control measures include manually removing eggs and tadpoles from water bodies, trapping tadpoles using baits, and capturing adults by hand or using the Toadinator Cane Toad Trap.  The cane toad genome has now been sequenced and research into new control methods is now underway. For further information about cane toads and how to control them refer to the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Cane Toad fact sheet and Queensland Frog Society’s Cane Toad identification and control guide.  You can also report cane toad sightings, problems caused by toads, and control activities in your area using the ToadScan app.