Hitchhiking cane toads pose threat to southern Australia

October 6, 2024 5:10 PM

Hitchhiking cane toads pose threat to southern Australia. A biosecurity analyst says cane toads have travelled long distances on cars and trucks to end up in places where new populations would not be welcome. Context: cane toads are an ecological disaster in Australia, they are a foreign introduced species that eat native frogs, out compete native frogs, and also kill native snakes/lizards/mammals when the native snakes/lizards/mammals eat cane toads (because cane toads are poisonous.)
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries (9 comments total)

Identifying cane toads
posted by flabdablet at 5:39 PM on October 6

The eyebrow ridges are pretty distinctive. If you're looking at the critter's face and see more Sam the American Eagle than Kermit, that's a clue.
posted by flabdablet at 5:43 PM on October 6 [1 favorite]

I really had no idea there are so many Aussie MeFites.
posted by ryanshepard at 7:22 PM on October 6

We're a highly adaptable invasive species.
posted by flabdablet at 7:26 PM on October 6 [6 favorites]

If only someone could get the rabbits to think that they're tasty.
posted by Halloween Jack at 8:10 PM on October 6 [2 favorites]

I'm sure some foxes, cats and wild dogs already do think so, but I'm equally sure that the only lasting effect of that will be the evolution of a distaste for venomous toads in Australia's burgeoning feral pest predator populations.

It will be interesting, in coming years, to see whether it's toads or fire ants who come out on top.
posted by flabdablet at 10:22 PM on October 6 [1 favorite]

:) kids saw a cute native frog in our yard yesterday! Not a cane toad, thanks for the reassuring infographics.
posted by freethefeet at 12:46 AM on October 7 [1 favorite]

If only someone could get the rabbits to think that they're tasty.

Maybe not, but the fact that ibises have discovered a way to consume them without harm makes me feel a bit better about the bin chicken army in my suburb!
posted by Cheese Monster at 4:51 AM on October 7 [1 favorite]

Please watch Cane Toads: An Unnatural History (1988) for more. It's a documentary about the subject, with a cheeky humor. Justwatch listing (from U.S. site).
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 6:19 AM on October 7