Cane Toad Facts

Cane toads are a pest because:

• There are no specific predators of cane toads in Australia.
  
  
• The ability of cane toads to rapidly increase in number and expand into new areas and eat a large volume and variety of prey means they could displace many native species.
  
  
• Toads prey on native animals especially insects and other invertebrates.
  
  
• Toads out-compete native fauna such as small skinks and frogs for food.
  
  
• Cane toads are poisonous at all stages of their life cycle.
  
  
• Toads poison pets, humans, and native animals.
  
  
• Toads may carry diseases transmissible to native snakes, frogs and fishes.
  
  

Image: G. Miller, Aust. Museum

Cane toads can be identified as follows:

• Skin colour varies between grey, yellowish, olive-brown or reddish brown
  
  
• Skin above is dry, rough and warty
  
  
• Belly skin is pale with dark mottling
  
  
• Bony ridges over the eyes that meet above the nose
  
  
• Webbing between toes of hind feet, unwebbed front feet
  
  
• Average size of adults is 9- 15 cm
  
  
• Toads sit upright and move with short hops
  
  
• Toads have large swellings (parotoid glands) on the shoulder behind the eardrum
  
  

Please [ click here ] to see (and hear) the difference between some of our native frogs and cane toads.

If handling cane toads, take care not to come in contact with the poison. Venom exudes from the parotoid glands above the shoulders and toads have been reported to spray venom a short distance. Always use rubber gloves.

Always take care when handling frogs.

• If you would like to ‘Toad Proof’ you frog pond or farm dam, please [ click here ] to download an information sheet. Alternatively you can contact the Tweed Shire Council Invasive Species Officer to discuss how to go about this.
  
  
• Collect and dispose of toads humanely but be 100% sure before you kill a cane toad that it is not one of our native frog species. If a suspected toad is under 4 cm in length, please take it to Tweed Shire Council chambers or the NPWS office for identification.
  
  
• If you are part of a community group and would like to host a Cane Toad muster in your area, please contact the Tweed Shire Council Invasive Species Officer to discuss.
  
  

Tweed Shire Council Invasive Species Officer

02 6670 2778
pgray@tweed.nsw.gov.au

Cane Toads in Oz
This site provides a wealth of knowledge on how Cane Toads live, what effect they have on native species, and most importantly, how science may be able to help us control these troublesome pests.

Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
This site provides a link to the Draft Threat Abatement Plan for Cane Toads, as well as links to some scientific papers and fact sheets.

Frog and Tadpole Study Group
The Frog and Tadpole Study Group are a society of people based in New South Wales, Australia, who have a genuine interest in frogs and tadpoles. This site provides all sorts of information on frogs, including frog identification and fact sheets on building frog ponds and creating frog habitat on your property.

Northern Territory Government website
The Northern Territory government has provided an excellent site, with relevant information and numerous downloads.