Introduced to Queensland cane fields in the mid 1930s to help control the native grey-backed cane beetle, the insidious and destructive cane toad (Buffo marinus) has slowly been making its way south often hitching a ride into NSW on unsuspecting vehicles, in green waste or loads of timber.
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Now, these unwanted and unloved creatures have found their way to the Mid North Coast.
Unfortunately, the introduction of the toads has not only caused large environmental problems, but there is no evidence they have affected the cane beetles that they were introduced to prey upon.
Later this week MidCoast Council along with Hunter Local Land Services will hold a Cane Toad and Native Frog workshop and spotlight night at Tea Gardens.
Cane toads are increasingly being reported in the Hunter and Mid Coast regions, and this workshop, held intermittently depending on interest, has been organised to ensure the community can help prevent cane toads establishing in the local area, MidCoast Council senior ecologist, Mat Bell said.
"Cane Toads pose a major threat to our native fauna," Mr Bell said.
Cane Toads pose a major threat to our native fauna.
- Mat Bell
"While we're still only getting one-off sightings, generally when a toad has stowed away in a vehicle travelling from Queensland or northern NSW, one toad can lay 35,000 eggs, so we can't take these sightings lightly."
Since the initial 102 cane toads were released by Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations, now the Sugar Research Australia, numbers have exploded to more than 200 million, affecting local biodiversity.
The workshop will help the community be able to tell the difference between native frogs and cane toads, learn about cane toad versus native frog ecology and how to safely and humanely handle cane toads, as well as identifying high risk sites for potential new cane toad incursions and what to do when you think you've spotted one.
The workshop and spotlight walk will be held at The Admirals Green Park and surrounds this Saturday, February 13 with the workshop running from 6.30-8.30pm followed by the spotlight walk from 8.30-10pm.
To attend the workshop and spotlight walk click HERE.
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