Toxic cane toads reportedly spotted in Truro, in South Australia’s Mid North
The owner of the Truro post office initially thought the call from PIRSA about two cane toads being reportedly spotted in the town was an April Fool’s joke. But then they asked her to help distribute a flyer warning of the toxic pests.
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State border patrols have been warned about a new and dangerous predator – a rough and leathery creature known as the cane toad.
Classified as a controlled toxic pest, two cane toads were reportedly caught and killed in the state’s Mid North, prompting a flyer warning.
A Primary Industries and Regions SA spokesman said the toads were first sighted on the Sturt Highway, near the Truro main town centre on September 5.
“They were euthanised by the person who reported the sighting and the remains disposed of,” the spokesman said.
“As a result, the department has not been able to confirm the species.”
The spokesman said cane toads were mostly always stowaways transported in vehicles into SA from the northern states.
“These are invasive pests that are not known to be in South Australia,” the spokesman said.
As a precaution, a flyer was distributed, warning residents to be on the lookout for them.
“They produce a poison that kills many native animals and pets who try to eat it,” it said.
Joanne Lemmey, who runs the Truro post office with her husband David, said she had placed a flyer on her noticeboard after being contacted by someone from PIRSA.
“They rang me and said there was a cane toad found in the main street of Truro,” Mrs Lemmey said.
“We thought it was an April Fool’s joke but it’s not April. It’s a bit of a worry.”
She said it was the first time in the 10 years since she moved from Adelaide to Truro that she had heard of cane toads being spotted in the area.
Matthew Flinders Fellow in global ecology Professor Corey Bradshaw said most experts believed cane toads, which are predominantly found in Queensland, would eventually be found in most parts of Australia.