Trap could halt march of cane toads into the Clarence Valley

THE Clarence Valley Conservation in Action (CIA) Landcare network has acquired a new weapon to turn the tide of war against cane toads.

ARMED AND READY: Bevan Pugh with one of the traps that will in the battle to hold back the cane toad. Photo: Leigh Jensen

THE Clarence Valley Conservation in Action (CIA) Landcare network has acquired a new weapon to turn the tide of war against cane toads.

CIA founder and member Sharon Lehman said the trap used the toad tadpole's own cannibalistic nature against itself.

When a female cane toad enters a pond to lay eggs, her toxins attract cane toad tadpoles already in the pond. The tadpoles eat the eggs so they will not have to compete with other toads.

University of Sydney professor Rick Shine developed the trap with the University of Queensland.

"This is perfect to use in funnel-traps in ponds to catch toad tadpoles," he said. "Other native fauna such as fishes and insects aren't attracted to this chemical but toad tadpoles search for its source as soon as they encounter it."

"When we use this chemical as bait in a funnel-trap in one natural pond, we collected more than 40,000 toad tadpoles in less than a week."

Ms Lehman said the trap would let them take the fight to the toad during the day.

"There is no magic bullet, but this is something that will help."

The traps could arrive by late January.

If you are interested in toading, phone the CIA cane toad coordinator Rob Bryant on 0423 695 538 or visit http://www.cvcia.org.au.

Originally published as Trap could halt march of cane toads into the Clarence Valley