Watergum Cane Toads FAQ

Their production was previously funded by the Queensland Citizen Science Grants. The grant paid the wages of the lab technicians to make the lures, meaning they could give them out for free.

There is no-longer any grant funding attached to the production of the Lures. The only way to fund their production is through product sales. Product sales will fund the creation and distribution of Tadpole Traps and Lures across Australia through the commercial market, insuring that they are made available to everyone who wants and needs them.

Since Watergum is a not for profit organisation and a registered charity, prices will remain as low as possible, with all proceeds from product sales go back into the Watergum organisation and facilitate the creation or more and more products. This is a sustainable model and will ensure that we can continue to tackle cane toads across Australia.

Cane Toad Tadpole Trap – $45 + GST and shipping
Cane Toad Tadpole Lures (5 pack, 120 hours of catching time) – $20 + GST and shipping

Yes if you want to, you can make your own trap. You will require;
* Medium to good quality plastic tub and lid ($10 – $25)
* 2 X medium funnels ($6 – $10)
* Sandpaper ($2 – $4)
* Marine grade silicone ($22 – $32)
* Machinery/tools to cut holes for the funnels

Homemade traps must be completely watertight or your results will be severely impacted.

Silicone joints must be redone regularly as they absorb tadpole scent over time which will impact your future results.

No, it is not possible to make your own lures logistically or legally. Specific scientific methodology is required for which there is a patient currently approved for use by Watergum only.

To cane toad tadpoles, the Lures smell like food. They are attracted to the lure because they think they are going to find food.

Dead cane toads will attract cane toad tadpole to a degree, due to the presence of the attractant pheremone in their paratoid glands. However, success is limited and this method causes polluting of the waterway so is not recommended. In addition to the the decomposing body of the cane toad, the various components that make up the paratoid gland secretion will seep into the water, most notably the cane toad’s toxin. Other attractants within the secretion may also attract other species and result in non-target culling of frog tadpoles and other species.

No, these products are for use in water only.

No, These products are specifically for use in water to catch cane toad tadpoles. They will not catch adult cane toads.

Yes. Lures should still retain their potency, even if they have gotten wet. They may just not have the full 24 hours of use. See how you go.

There is no need to keep Cane Toad Tadpole Lures in the fridge, and no evidence to suggest this is beneficial. In contrast, the damp environment my impact their potency. Please keep your lures in a cool, dry place, under 30°C, in the original packaging.

Not yet. Lures that were developed 3+ years ago are still highly effective. This is a new technology and will be tested each year to see whether the Lures ever reach an expiry date

Superficial cracks can be fixed using a marine grade silicone. Make sure to silicone the crack both on the inside and outside of your trap and leave it to dry for at least 24 hours. You will need to redo the silicone regularly as over time, the silicone will absorb the tadpoles scent and will impact your success.

You can find written, pictorial and video instructions HERE.

Please work your way through this list to try and identify your problem

1) Did you watch the How-To Video before you started? This video will ensure you do everything right. Turn sound on

2) Did you wash your trap after you used it last? If not, the scent of your previous tadpole catch will be lingering on your trap and the new tadpoles won’t want to go in as they fear each other

3) Was your trap lid on properly? Make sure your trap lid is on firmly and tightly and that the corresponding numbers on the trap bucket and lid match. Even a tiny gap in your lid will mean that lure scent is leaking and forming a cloud around the lid, giving the tadpoles no reason to enter the trap via the funnels

4) Did you turn off your pond filter/water fountain? Running water will disrupt the scent plume and the tadpoles won’t know where to go

5) Could you see cane toad tadpoles? Only use your trap if you can actually see cane toad tadpoles. Cane toad tadpoles will be easy to see. If you can’t see them, they aren’t there. Use our ID guide for physical and behavioural ID tips

7) Was the trap lid on fully and securely? Putting the lid on can be a little tricky, but it is important it is on properly to create a water-tight seal. Refer to the How-To Video and to the instructions for help with this step

6) Was your trap the correct way up? Your trap should be placed in the water with Side C and the lure hole facing up

7) Did you fully submerge your trap? The lure hole must remain out of the water. If the trap is fully submerged, lure scent will leak from the lure hole and will impact results

8) Did you let the water settle inside your trap before you put your lure in? This will ensure the best possible lure scent plum is drifting from the funnels

9) Did you effectively stabilise your trap with a rock or similar? If your trap is mobile in the water, the scent plume will be affected and trapping success impacted

10) Did you find any dead tadpoles in your trap? Dead cane toad tadpoles send out a warning signal to others telling them to stay away. To reduce the likelihood of tadpoles dying in your trap, limit each trapping session to 4 – 8 hours, especially when it is very hot weather

12) Did it rain? Rainfall and tidal movements will affect your scent plume dispersal. Plan tadpole trapping activities on a clear, sunny day for best results

13) Was the water disturbed? Animals swimming and wading, children playing, falling branches and other large water disturbances may affect the scent plume dispersal

14) Is it too cold? Cane toad tadpoles lose their appetite when it is cold, so they won’t be interested in the lure attractant. Choose a warm, sunny day for tadpole trapping. This is a large continent and temperature requirements can vary geographically for hungry tadpoles, but ideally water temperatures will be at least 18C

15) Is it too hot? If it is too hot, tadpoles can very easily die in your trap and render your trapping session ineffective. In very hot temperatures, set your trap overnight

16) Is your trap in good condition? Check your trap carefully. If there are any cracks in the bucket or lid, your trapping success will be impacted

17) Did you store your lures in a cool dry place? If your lures have become wet and mouldy, or have been exposed to very high heat, their effectiveness may be impacted.

Did this guide help solve your problem? If not, please contact the Watergum team and we will try and work our what is going wrong. Email – canetoads@watergum.org, or phone – 07 2103 5796.

A number of this could be happening here;

1) You need to wash your trap. Your trap may stink of your previous catch, making the new tadpoles to scared to go in

2) The water is too cold. If the water is cooler than usual, the cane toad tadpoles will have no appetite and won’t be interested in the lure. You may need to wait until later in the day, or until another day when it is hotter. Fluctuating temperatures impact tadpoles’ appetites.

3) Your trap is leaking. If lure scent is leaking from somewhere other than your funnels, then it will form a cloud around the trap and the tadpoles will have no reason to swim into the funnels and into the trap. Check your trap to make sure the lid is on correctly, ensure it is not fully submerged under water, and check for cracks in the plastic.

Yes. Each lure has 24 hours of in-water use. This means you can use it for a 4 hour trapping session, and you still have 20 hour of use left. Keep a tally of how many hours you have used your lure. When you remove it from the water, store it in a cool dry place, ready to be used again the next day, or further into the future.

Lures will be strongest during their first use, with their potency gradually weakening over the course of their 24 hours of use.

Water filters and fountains will completely disrupt the scent plumes drifting from the funnels. Ensure you switch them off before using your tadpole trap.

Every waterbody is different. If your waterbody is deeper than the trap there are two things you can do.

1) Make a structure or a stand for your trap. Bricks or rocks can be used to make a stand, which you can then place your trap onto so that it is in the correct position, at the surface of the water. You can also attach your trap to a picket post that has been driven into the ground (although don’t opt for this if you are trapping in a pond with pond liner!)

2) Stabilise your trap to the bank using ropes. This can be a good option when you have a deep but sloping edge. Weigh down your trap by placing a rock inside it, but use a rope to stabilise it to a nearby tree or similar, so that the trap doesn’t slip down the bank and under the water

We will soon be adding some photo and video examples of trap stabilisation in deep water.

Light rain is okay, however heavy rain will disturb the water too much, causing your scent plum to be disturbed which will impact your trapping success. Heave rain can also cause the water level to rise and may result in your trap becoming fully submerged, which will impact your trapping success.

Yes this is fine. Just be aware that when you remove your trap from the water, water and tadpoles can pour out from the long funnel and the lure hole.

If you do this, lure scent will pour out from the lure hole and will create a cloud around your trap, giving the tadpoles no reason to enter your trap through the funnels.

If you move your trap, you will disrupt the scent plumes drifting out of the funnels and this will impact your trapping success.

Generally and ideal trapping session is 4 – 8 hours. The session needs to be;
*long enough for a suitable scent plume to form out of the funnels and attract plenty of tadpoles
*short enough so that tadpoles don’t die in the trap. Dead tadpoles send out a signal to warn other cane toad tadpoles to stay away. If many tadpoles die if your trap, your trapping session will be ineffective.

If it is overcast and cool, you may be able to leave your trap out longer without worrying that tadpoles will die in the trap.

If it it very hot, you may have to leave your trap out for less than 4 hours, or you may want to consider leaving your trap in the water overnight when it is cooler.

Cane toad tadpoles to not like to mix with other cane toad tadpoles from different family groups. This makes sense since they cannibalise each other. Each time you use your tadpole trap, the scent of your captured tadpoles will linger on your trap. It is important that you thoroughly wash your trap so that it doesn’t smell like cane toad tadpoles. If you don’t wash your trap, the next time you use it, new tadpoles will not go near it as they think it is occupied by other cane toad tadpoles from another family group.

Traps that are left out in the environment may cause significant problems for humans, pets and wildlife such as litter, injury, entrapment or death. Please never leave your trap in the environment. Always end your trapping session properly, follow the instructions included in each pack of lures.

If you wish to use the tadpole trap on public land, or on land that you do not own, please contact your local authority or the land owner to ask for permission.

Yes, although the lures should be kept our of reach of children and should only be handled by an adult. Please always supervise children around ponds and waterways.

Contain them , count them, euthanise them dispose of them.

1) Contain – Take the lid off your trap and pour the contents through a net to capture the tadpoles. Remove any bycatch and return it to the water, then place the tadpoles in a container or a zip-lock bag

2) Count – Count your catch and log your date in our online database! This data is super helpful to us and helps us to monitor how much impact we are having on cane toads. There is an explanation of how to count tadpoles in the next question

3) Euthanise – The most humane form or euthanasia for cane toad tadpoles is a period of refrigeration of up to 8 hours, followed by a period in the freezer of up to 8 hours.

4) Dispose – Dispose of tadpoles by burying them deep in your compost system, or throwing them out with your general waste

Sometimes you can make a visual assessment and fairly accurately estimate how many tadpoles you have caught.

If you have caught thousands of tadpoles, this will be impossible, but there is a simple calculation you can do to determine approximately how many tadpoles you have caught. Follow the instructions below;

1) Count out 100 tadpoles and weigh them for the value of A.

2) Next, place your entire catch into a sealed bag and weigh the entire catch for the value of B.

3) Divide B by A and multiply by 100 to determine how many tadpoles you have, C.

*100 tadpoles = A
*Entire catch = B
*B / A X 100 = C

No. If water is able to pass through the crack, your trapping success will be impacted. You may be able to repair your trap using a marine-grade silicone.

Yes, cane toad eggs are coated in a toxic secretion from the mother are are more toxic than the tadpoles. Cane toads are toxic at each life stage and for some time after death.

Yes. Cane toads metamorphs (tiny toads that have just morphed from the tadpole stage and left the water) are starting to develop their own toxins which will get stronger and stronger as they grow. Cane toads are toxic at each life stage and for some time after death.

Yes, adult cane toads produce their own toxins as their primary defence against predators. Bigger toads are generally more toxic. Cane toads are toxic at each life stage and for some time after death.

Yes, dead cane toads can remain toxic for several weeks after death. This means roadkill is toxic to dogs and wildlife.

Lures are potentially toxic to dogs and definitely present a choking hazard.

Please keep lures out of reach of pets and children. Dogs and children could easily choke on a lure if it is place in the mouth. If swallowed, please follow the safety advice detailed on the packet and below and contact a doctor or vet immediately.

Avoid direct contact with the skin. Do not ingest or inhale. Strictly adult use only. EYE CONTACT: Hold eyelids apart and flush eyes with water for at least 15 minutes. Have eyes examined and tested by a medical professional. SKIN CONTACT: Immediately wash skin with soap and plenty of water. INGESTION: Rinse mouth with water and do not swallow. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Seek medical attention. Do not induce vomiting unless directed to do so by medical personnel. INHALATION: Move person into fresh air and give supplemental oxygen if available. If not breathing give artificial respiration. Seek medical attention.

Euthanised cane toad tadpoles cane be disposed of by burying them deep in your compost system or in the ground.

Cane toad tadpoles can also be disposed of in your general waste. Biological matter disposed of in general waste creates excess carbon monoxide at landfill so please utilise biowaste options where possible.

No, please don’t do this. Cane toad tadpoles are toxic and if left out in the open like this, there is a high possibility of wildlife or pets attempting to eat the tadpoles. Please dispose of your tadpoles responsibly.

No. Invertebrates are unaffected by cane toad toxin. Worms, ants and other insects will break down the dead tadpoles and turn them into good fertile nutrients for the soil.

In a regular compost system, it may take 3 – 6 months for cane toads and their toxins to decompose fully. If you have a hot compost system, the toxins will break down much faster. Read about hot compost systems HERE.

Yes, once broken down, cane toads make excellent blood and bone compost, however, we would suggest waiting 6 – 12 months before using in your veggie garden.

We would not recommend this. We would recommend composting cane toad bodies for 6 – 12 months within your compost system before using on your veggie garden.

The most humane form or euthanasia for cane toad adults is a period of refrigeration of up to 24 hours, followed by a period in the freezer of up to 24 hours. See detailed instructions HERE.

1) Drop-off Station – If you live in SE QLD, you may live near a drop-off station. Many drop-off stations will take live cane toads as well as deceased. Check the map and click on each icon for addresses, opening times. and other details.

2) Please use an alternative method that is as humane as possible. Remember, cane toads did not ask to be on this continent, they were brought here by humans and are just trying their best to survive like anything else. Please treat them humanely and teach good values to children about respect for living things.

No. Firstly, this is inhumane, secondly, it it often ineffective. Cane toads are surprisingly robust and will often recover and make their way back to their territory. Thirdly, this practise can result in the rupture of the paratoid glands, which splashes cane toad toxin into the environment, putting wildlife and pets at risk in the following days.

No. Cleaning products should not be used to kill cane toads. This is proven to be very inhumane and can result in the introduction of chemicals to the environment.

Cane toads killed with cleaning products can not be used for Cane Toad Tadpole Lure production.

There are a number of chemical cane toad killers on the commercial market. These methods can be effective in killing cane toads, however they are not humane according to scientific study. If you are concerned about being humane, then these products are not for you. You can find out more information and links to available research papers HERE.

If you do want to use these products, it is important that you first collect the cane toads into a bucket and then apply the chemical cane toad killer in the confines of the bucket. The spray has a wide dispersal and spraying chemicals into the environment is dangerous and harmful for non-target plant and animal species, as well as for the environment as a whole. The other reason to use a bucket is that the chemicals can sometimes take up to half an hour to kill the cane toad. If it is able to, the cane toad will hop away and die in the environment. Not only are chemicals introduced to the environment this way, but the toxic cane toad body is also left in the environment and presents a threat to wildlife and pets.

Cane toads killed with chemicals can not be used for Cane Toad Tadpole Lure production

Preliminary testing has shown that eugenol based cane toad killing products act faster and appear to be humane. However more testing is needed to fully confirm eugenol as a humane method of cane toad control. Watergum is keen to further investigate eugenol based sprays.

At this stage, cane toads killed in this way can not be used for Cane Toad Tadpole Lure production, however we will be investigating this further and will keep everyone updated.

1) Drop-off Station – If you live in SE QLD, you may live near a drop-off station. This is the best thing you can do with your adult cane toads and they will be collected by Watergum and used to make more Cane Toad Tadpole Lures. Many drop-off stations will take live cane toads as well as deceased. Check the map and click on each icon for addresses and opening times.

2) Compost / Bury – The next best thing you can do is to bury your cane toads deep in your compost or in the ground where they will rot down naturally and provide nutrition to the soil.

3) General Waste – Cane toad adults can also be disposed of in your general waste. Biological matter disposed of in general waste creates excess carbon monoxide at landfill so please utilise biowaste options where possible.

No. The Lures are safe for use in natural waterways and do not threaten other species.

Yes, cane toads can breed in brackish water, however you will not find them in full salt water.