Cane toads (Rhinella marina) are an invasive species in Australia that impact our wildlife, domestic pets and eat beneficial insects, which can impact local agriculture and ecosystems.
We’re making a difference in local areas, cleaning up local environments and reducing cane toad numbers with effective, humane control.
Every cane toad counts.
Cane toads were introduced to Australia in 1935 to control Cane Beetles (Dermolepida albohirtum) which were decimating sugar cane crops; this was a biocontrol effort that failed.
Now, we have an estimated population of 200 million cane toads in Australia. With a prolific breeding rate and an expanding range, they are one of Australia’s worst invaders.
Getting rid of this pest can be challenging, but with a bit of consistency, we have a method to control cane toad populations that really works.
An Australian invader
Ever wondered why Cane Toads are such a problem in Australia?
Cane Toads are toxic at every life stage. They poison Australian native wildlife, causing declines and local extinctions.
Cane Toads are listed as a key threatening process under the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Cane Toads also pose a risk to domestic pets, with an adult toad capable of poisoning a medium-sized dog in 15 minutes.
Their voracious appetite includes beneficial insects, bird eggs, and small mammals. They can impact agricultural industries by consuming dune beetles and bees.
Break the breeding cycle
Cane Toads are prolific breeders, producing 8,000 to 35,000 eggs per reproduction cycle. This breeding rate has been a challenge of controlling their populations, until now.
The Cane Toad Tadpole Trap and Lure is a world first technology that targets the vulnerable tadpole phase of the breeding cycle.
The pheromone based lure attracts Cane Toad tadpoles into the trap, making it easy to remove hundreds at once. This removes Cane Toads before they grow up to cause damage to the environment.
The lure technology was initially developed by researchers at the University of Queensland.
These products are certified Australian made and produced by Watergum, to make effective, humane Cane Toad control accessible to Australians.
Toad busting
While Cane Toads are toxic at every life stage, they are most poisonous as adults. An adult toad contains the majority of its toxin in the paratoid gland behind the shoulder, and will secrete bufotoxin when threatened.
Adult Cane Toads can live for more than 10 years, so removing them from your environment is an easy and effective way to have an immediate impact in your local area.
After toad busting, humanely euthanise your toads according to current best practice, using the stepped hypothermia method.
Watergum runs Cane Toad Drop-off Points, where you can bring Cane Toads to be humanely euthanised. These toads are used in the making of our Cane Toad Tadpole Lures.
Maximising our impact
Studies show that Cane Toad control efforts can remove between 28% to 47% of a localized toad population.
Our Cane Toad Challenge community reports not only seeing a noticeable drop in toad numbers but also the return of native wildlife after consistent control efforts.
Removing Cane Toads has positive impacts on local ecosystems, freeing up food and habitat resources and reducing the threat of poisoning for native animals.
Putting these observations to the test, Watergum is undertaking a comprehensive citizen science project aimed at quantifying the effectiveness and efficiency of tadpole trapping and toad busting techniques.
We are stronger when we work together. Getting your community involved in controlling Cane Toads amplifies your impact, creating a haven for native wildlife, domestic pets and restoring ecosystems.
Get involved!
By learning how to correctly identify, effectively control and humanely euthanise cane toads, you can make a real difference to your local area. Consistent action results in a reduction of cane toad numbers in your local area, creating a safe haven for wildlife, domestic pets and agriculture.
Every cane toad counts.
Learn to identify toads
There are more than 240 frog species in Australia, so it’s important to feel confident in your Cane Toad ID to avoid a case of mistaken identity.
Submit your data
Have you been out for a tadpole trapping or toad busting? Submit your data to our citizen science database and make a difference.
Tadpole trapping products
Learn more about the Cane Toad Tadpole Trap and Lure system to break the cane toad breeding cycle.
Come to an event
During Cane Toad breeding season, we run toad busting and other Cane Toad control events. Find an event near you and join the Cane Toad Challenge!
Humane euthanasia
It’s important to humanely euthanise any toads you remove from the environment. Check out our how to guides.
Drop off points
Can’t euthanise or store cane toads at home? See a full list of Cane Toad Drop-off Points.
See our outcomes
We make sure our data makes a difference. Check out our Cane Toad Challenge outcomes from past years.
The Cane Toad Tadpole Trap and Lure are supported by
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