Are cane toads still a problem over there? you don't hear as much about them in the West as we did a few years ago.
Are they still jumping everywhere? getting squashed on the roads etc?
My favourite show on TV is Have You Been Paying Attention, and they have some Queenslanders as regulars.....Pauline Hanson, Bob Katter and Clive Palmer, what a bunch of misfits.
With that lot and cane toads, why would anyone visit?
Down our way, the prolonged drought has reduced the number of toads, a wet season as forecast they will be back again in plague proportions. Have not squashed many on the road or driveway this year as previously.
They are still around Bob. Places that have a number of lights on e.g. facilities at some caravan parks seem to attract a fair share of them.
However in my yard when a few years ago it was not uncommon to see, dispose of up to ten a night, now I see one or two a week. There is a spray can available called Hop Stop that "fixes" them - they hop about ten metres, then they're dead.
I agree about the droughts affecting them - they do prefer a damp climate & lush bush for shelter.
A number of native birds have worked out how to eat them without getting poisoned - they turn them over & eat their bellies.
Now for your tongue in cheek, you can have two of the "characters" - at least the third is trying to keep Australia's assets in Australian hands! More so than others who will do anything for money!
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Warren
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If you don't get it done today, there's always tomorrow!
Ive put a few toads in a shoe box for you Bob, and they will be in the mail today. You should have them in time for Christmas.
As for the 3 characters you mentioned, they are only a few of the good ones that come out of the sunshine state!!!
My daughter lives in Brisbane, and has the things around her place. She also has a boxer puppy (14 years old but still a puppy). Apparently he loves to lick the toads because he gets a haleucenagenic kick out of it. Occasionally he gets too much and it is off too the vet then. He is a lovely puppy, but not very bright.
I would suggest the misfit's are running WA at the moment!
We live on the GC and never see a cane toad now days. 30 years ago they were always on the back lawn. Roads were carpeted with them. Haven't see one here for years.
No, we sandgropers have been doing very well thank you very much. Our economy is doing well. No misfits here. The biggest toad is Clive and it looks like he is currently getting a bit of a hiding for a change.
Whilst it will be nice when the borders are finally open for good, this is one West Aussie who is in no hurry until we have Covid put to bed.
Ive put a few toads in a shoe box for you Bob, and they will be in the mail today. You should have them in time for Christmas. As for the 3 characters you mentioned, they are only a few of the good ones that come out of the sunshine state!!!
Thanks Teo,
Apart from the characters in Qld, it was a serious question.
We all know about the rabbits and camels in plague numbers, but the cane toads were out of control a few years back, spreading across NT and into the Kimberley WA.
Are cane toads still a problem over there? you don't hear as much about them in the West as we did a few years ago.
Are they still jumping everywhere? getting squashed on the roads etc?
My favourite show on TV is Have You Been Paying Attention, and they have some Queenslanders as regulars.....Pauline Hanson, Bob Katter and Clive Palmer, what a bunch of misfits.
With that lot and cane toads, why would anyone visit?
Cheers Bob
Tongue firmly in Cheek
I do miss my game of cane toad golf I used to play in the NT
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John
2017 dmax lovells upgrade full CSM trade aluminium canopy,3.5 m quintrex tinny and rear boat loader mangrove jack aluminium trailer
WA's economy is propped up by Jobkeeper and Jobseeker. Etc etc. So don't get to smug.
Each night we had to bring the dog and cat food/bowl inside otherwise the cane toads would steal their food.
Now we never see one.
Hey Bob, I would agree with the (cane toad) answers above that they dont seem as plentiful as they once were. We live opposite a lagoon and there used to be thousands of the little bastards on the walking path after a few days of rain. Our kids would count how many they could squash under their shoes at a time. Luckily most of the little toads did not survive. The council said eels & turtles ate them. It will be interesting to see what happens after our next decent wet season.
Hello Warren-Pat 01,
You wrote " There is a spray can available called Hop Stop that "fixes" them - they hop about ten metres, then they're dead. " - it got me a wondering re the active ingredient of the stuff!
Being Adelaideans, with a Qld (Cairns, now G.C.) son, we have many anecdotes from him re these creatures and the various game played by locals.
2009 which saw us take L.S.L. to go to the Tip (top of Cape York) and from research learned that a cheap spray bottle each and an expensive bottle of Dettol or similar would provide some time of hunting the blighters at night with torch. It worked in a few seconds! Next am all that was left was a dried out mummified skin!
The biggest we ever saw was in 2010 when lunching at St Vidgeon Ruins Lagoon on the way to Boroloola, the creature was about the size of a Rugby Ball and kept it's distance out in the water, having guessed rightly that we were after it!
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Cheers - Ian
I slowly realise as I get older that I am definitely NOT the fastest rat in the race.
Also the older I get the more I realise I do not know.
Hi Ian,
You asked what is in Hop Stop - it is 40g/kg Chloroxylenol if that means anything. I've even found the odd one that made it to my fish pond to wash off the spray, I assume - dead a bit later.
I think I got it from Bunnings a few years ago, not certain if it is still sold.
erad,
Regarding dogs being affected by toads. Our son's terrier was also a sucker for anything that moved. After a night at the vet & a $500 bill, I kept watch on the dog. I caught her a few times frothing at the mouth, walking in circles so I successfully washed her mouth out with the hose - the water going across her mouth, not down her throat.
I'm certain the really big ones (yellowish in colour) are the female, while the smaller mainly brown & smoother skin are the males.
There was a picture in the Townsville Bulletin a couple of years ago of a death adder attempting to swallow a toad - they both stopped there, both dead!
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Warren
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If you don't get it done today, there's always tomorrow!
