What's your idea on how Australia can rid itself of non-native cane toads?

Question

I saw an interesting show on the National Geographic Channel last night and can't stop thinking about the problem.

Answer 1

Personally I think we're screwed as far as cane toads go. I've never heard anyone come up with a good idea. To all of you who say "eat them": you do realize they are terrifically poisonous--which is half the problem, because native fauna keep eating them and dying? You don't want to eat them, believe me. And to those of you who say "kill them all": we try, but the problem is finding them all! For every one you see, there are about six gazillion on the bush.

Can't say I know much about disease-control logistics (e.g. risk of infecting native frog populations), but because of the dearth of macro-predators, maybe a cane toad disease would be helpful? Or maybe a way of disrupting their reproduction such that the spawned eggs wouldn't be viable? Best to start with all the details of cane toad life cycle and ecophysiology--gotta know thy enemy to design biological controls.

Answer 2

Here's some ideas that might help with a complex problem. 1. If we all remain diligent in keeping our individual patches of Australia completely cane-toad-free it should at least reduce their impact. 2. A break anywhere in the breeding cycle will prevent future generations emerging. 3. Find a profitable way to utilise them. 4. Conduct more volunteer collection evenings.

Answer 3

I have heard about a particular kind of atomic weapon called a "neutron bomb" which kills all life forms but does no damage to structures such as buildings and the like.
You could use these devices on Australia, and then repopulate with only native species.

Answer 4

im not really sure, but i did an essay on that recently, its amazing how those toads have evolved to better suit the australian outback. it just goes to show what happens when certain species are put in a foreign place, that will adapt and do what needs to be done for survival.

Answer 5

that is a really tough question....if they introduce something that eats them...the introduced species will end causing all kinds of envrionmental problems. I think they need to start convincing people that cane toads are a delicacy!

Answer 6

we've had the problem for years but if we could all kill them when we see them it would help. My dad made a spike and used to pick them up with it. Or practice your golf swing lol. There are many forms of killing cain toads

Answer 7

Find an animal that will eat or kill them, or start serving cane toads at fancy restaurants....

Answer 8

get the towns together and go out with a bunch of rocks or dynamite or some shotguns and killemall

Answer 9

exterminate them all i guess