Emma Pritchard

Clarence Landcare Inc are encouraging Clarence Valley residents to participate in the Great Cane Toad Bust 2024 to help prevent the poisonous predators from increasing their numbers throughout the region.

A national incentive, the annual event focuses on raising awareness of the invasive species, controlling their population, educating communities on how to correctly identify them, and to ensure any cane toads captured during hunts are humanely euthanised.

Between January 13-21, property owners and people living in residential areas are being encouraged to team up with their families and friends and join in Australia’s biggest cane toad hunt of the year.

Clarence Landcare Educational Officer Kelly McRae said cane toads are a serious biodiversity threat, and community action plays a significant role in reducing their impact on the environment, fragile ecosystems, and native species.

“Positively identifying and catching cane toads are the best ways of controlling their numbers,” she explained.

“Over the years, cane toads have been moving south from North Queensland at an alarming rate.

“In the Clarence Valley where we have unique ecosystems that are home to native species which are being threatened by cane toads, it’s extremely important we take action to reduce their numbers.”

The first reports of cane toads in the Clarence Valley were documented in 2003 when they were discovered in Yamba.

Since their introduction into the country almost 90 years ago in an attempt to control the native grey-backed cane beetles which were destroying sugarcane crops, cane toads have become one of the worst invasive species in Australia.

“Cane toads have successfully adapted to Australian conditions, and with no natural predators or diseases which affect them, their numbers have exploded rapidly in a relatively short length of time since their introduction from Central and South America,” Ms McRae said.

“One female can lay over 30000 eggs per clutch, so each female which is removed during a cane toad bust helps to reduce their numbers.

“With consistent efforts and by actively participating in cane toad hunts, we can limit their numbers and help protect the environment and our native wildlife.”

For further information, including how to set up your own hunts and register the number of cane toads you catch, please visit www.watergum.org/greatcanetoadbust/

• Clarence Landcare Inc are also inviting Clarence Valley residents to grab a torch, some gloves, and a sturdy pair of walking shoes, and join in a cane toad bust in Maclean next week. Participants are invited to meet at the Sports Centre carpark on January 19 at 7:30pm. To RSVP, please call 0419 941 118, email canetoads@clarencelandcare.com.au or visit the Clarence Landcare Facebook page.