The arrival of Cane Toads will cause mass devastation to the wildlife and eco-systems of the Kimberley.
With your vigilance and help we can stop them becoming established in this region. Cane Toads are found in habitats ranging from sand dunes and coastal heath to the margins of rainforest and mangroves. They are most abundant in open clearings in urban areas, and in grassland and woodland.
Cane Toads occur throughout the eastern and northern half of Queensland and have extended their range to the river catchments surrounding Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory as well as the town of Katherine. In New South Wales they occur on the coast as far south as Byron Bay and are now reaching Sydney.
Be responsible and do not attempt to bring pot plants into the Kimberley. Help our border protection officers to find toads that may have ‘hitched a ride’ in your vehicle, caravan, trailer or camping equipment. Cane Toads cannot jump like other frogs and cannot climb high walls, however they can get into the under body of your vehicles and into camping equipment. Check every thing regularly.
Cane Toads are considered a pest in Australia because they:
- poison pets and injure humans with their toxins
- poison many native animals whose diet includes frogs, tadpoles and frogs' eggs
- eat large numbers of honey bees, creating a management problem for bee-keepers
- prey on native fauna
- compete for food with vertebrate insectivores such as small skinks
- may carry diseases that are can be transmitted to native frogs and fishes.
Look for these distinguishing features:
- Toxic parotoid glands behind ear drum
- Bony ridge above eye
- Webbing on rear feet – note front feet are unwebbed
- Skin is rough, dry and warty
- They sit upright and move in short, rapid hops
If you see a cane toad report it immediately to
