Great Cane Toad Bust

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Sat 18 Jan 2025 - Sun 26 Jan 2025

Join in the fight to help save our natural waterways, protect our native wildlife and bust Australia's cane toad population from January 18 to 26, 2025 by taking part in the .



As the heat and rainy days of summer appear, so do those pesky cane toads taking over our parks, gardens and waterways. You can help clear our natural environments of these nasty pests by taking part in Australia's largest cane toad control event. The is a community-led event that traps tadpoles by day and busts toads by night.



Just like Clean Up Australia Day is about removing rubbish and waste from our environment, the is about cleaning up our environment from toxic toads. Studies have shown that cane toad collection efforts can remove 28% to 47% of a localised toad population.

The problem with cane toads
Cane toads were introduced into Queensland from Hawaii in 1935 to help fight the cane beetle which was at plague proportions in sugar cane crops.



While only 102 cane toads were introduced to Queensland, their numbers now exceed an estimated two billion. One female cane toad can lay 35,000 eggs. Cane toads are toxic and may excrete poisonous toxins from behind their eyes when they feel threatened. They have impacted the decline in populations of native frogs and lizards, northern quolls, and other species, and they are dangerous to our companion and domestic animals.



How the Works
To join in the cane toad busting efforts, you need to collect cane toads in nets or by hand (wearing gloves) and put them in a bucket. Euthanise cane toads humanely using the cooling and freezing method. This involves refrigerating toads for up to 24 hours before freezing them.

Events will be happening all over Australia but the toads are especially prolific in warmer climates on the East Coast. Here are some of the ways you can join in the fight. You can register your local event through Watergum and submit data on the number of toads collected. It is incredible to watch the tallies rise and the impact which groups and communities can have.

If you are new to the toad busting scene, you can also check the Watergum site to find an event that is happening near you or a toad bust in your own backyard.** Here are some which have already been listed.

Byron Bay

Brisbane


Don't forget your Toad busting kit equipment including:

Reducing the numbers has been shown to interrupt the breeding patterns of the animals which helps reduce the numbers for the following year. Last year nearly 60 events were pre-registered, and this year the team are aiming for over 100 events registered before the kicks off on 18th January.

In 20223/23, some 123,808 cane toads were collected by volunteers during the breeding season. Let's see if we can bust this total in 2025 and help plants and animals thrive from this unwelcome garden guest.

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