Our friends at Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA) say the Toadbusters season is officially open! As a continuing program from previous years, groups of volunteers have been actively controlling Cane Toads numbers in ecologically sensitive areas in the Cairns region. The aim is to reduce the impact on our native species which have minimal defence against these introduced pests.

The Toadbusters have achieved some great results this season, by collecting over 300 Toads in just a couple of hours each Thursday evening. This local program is part of a bigger program which includes Toadbusting activities around the Queensland and Northern Territory coasts.

This time of year is ideal for finding and catching Cane toads and removing enough of the breeding stock to seriously reduce cane toad infestations in significant areas. Every volunteer that comes for 10 sessions receives a free TOADBUSTERS Tshirt - and the chance to meet some great people and dedicated volunteers.

The program focuses on humane ways to collect and remove Cane Toads with arrangement for their skins to be processed for leather.

Image: Toadbusters summer program

"Coming out with the Toadbusting team is a great way to become familiar with identifying Cane toads, learn about their unnatural history, discover toad wrangling techniques and participate in collection of scientific data in a safe way. We would like to make this season our biggest one yet and every hand helps", said Alice Crabtree, Regional Manager of Conservation Volunteers Australia.

To become part of the team and try something new, contact Conservation Volunteers on 4032 0844.