WA Department of Conservation and Land Management officers are investigating a reported sighting of cane toads on Camballin Station about 120 km south-east of Derby. While there have been several sightings of cane toads in Western Australia over the past few years authorities have been able to eradicate them.
CALM’s Kimberley Region Manager Chris Done said that baiting traps had since been established as well as extensive night searches.
Bufo marinus (cane taods) are prolific breeders, laying more than 50,000 eggs at once. In optimal conditions, eggs can hatch in two days and tadpoles can develop into tiny toads 16mm long in 16 days with sexually maturity developed over one to two years. The elongated swellings on either side of the neck are poison glands that can poison would-be predators including goannas, fish, quolls, birds of prey and domestic animals such as dogs. They eat almost any animal up to half their own length including mice, birds, lizards, other frogs, crabs, worms, and spiders.
