The holiday season is nearly upon us; it is only a week and a half until Christmas day, and many of us are thinking about packing up and heading to our favourite camp spot or pulling up to the relatives’ house to celebrate Christmas cheer.

Before hitting the road, the usual checks and balances are ticked off – all kids and/or dogs in the car – check, luggage – check, the Christmas presents and supplies - check. But have you checked to see if an unwanted invasive cane toad has hopped into your load to hitch a ride?

Don't laugh, each year, North Coast Local Land Services sees an increase in cane toad reports with the influx of campers and travellers moving from the established cane toad population areas into the Biosecurity cane toad-free zone of NSW. Cane toads typically get caught up in camping gear, trailers or vehicles.

Check your camping gear thoroughly before folding and loading, and do a quick check around your trailer and vehicle to make sure you don’t have a stowaway.

It is important to know what you are looking for and what you will do if you find a cane toad. Here are some tips on how to prepare:

1. Use the Landcare Cane Toad Control Handbook to familiarise yourself with how to identify, how to safely collect and how to report a toad: https://www.coffsharbourlandcare.org.au/resources/publication/landcare-cane-toad-control-handbook/
2. Watch the North Coast Local Land Services Cane Toad video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfqVOiK7QV8
3. Download the Australian Museum’s Frog ID app and listen to the cane toad call. It is breeding season now and males will be calling out to find a mate: https://www.frogid.net.au/

The Landcare Cane Toad Control Handbook provides information on how to euthanise a cane toad humanely. Several native frog species look like the invasive Cane Toad, so we recommend capturing the animal in a well-ventilated container, taking photos and reporting using the FeralScan app. A trained officer can then confirm the identity and advise on euthanasia, if required.

How to report

It takes 5 min to report. You can download the FeralScan app onto your phone or go directly to the website: https://www.feralscan.org.au/toadscan/. Simply upload your photos, include your contact details and location, and hit submit – it’s that easy!

Facts about cane toads:

• a female cane toad can lay up to 35,000 eggs each breeding season 
• cane toads have caused the local extinction of turtles, goannas, carnivorous mammals like quolls and birds in parts of Australia
• cane toads are poisonous at all life stages – eggs, tadpoles, juveniles and adults
• cane toads can kill pet dogs 

Have a hoppy Christmas and a toadally great New Year!