They used to have air rifles ,now look at how bad things have become ! www.news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4431645.stm

Your link isn't working but I would love to see toads invade.

Sorry, maybe one of the Aussies can find a different link.The cane toad was introduced to Australia 70 years ago .They are multiplying rapidly and becoming a serious problem.They have a very toxic slime on their skins.One of the comments was that in the past kids had air rifles which helped reduce numbers .Golf clubs ,cricket bats etc also work.

Try these:

Australia MP targets toxic toads
Monday, 11 April, 2005, 04:28 GMT
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4431645.stm

Australia hunts down toxic toads
Monday, 7 February, 2005, 05:11 GMT
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4242107.stm

I've personaly always found a no7 iron the best cal for toads (very good for chipping them across the fence)A Mate of mine in Queens Land would repressent Austraila with great success if Cane Toad belting ever becomes an Olympic sport.Hey we can get referances from his next door neighbour!(whose yard they end up in )

Its very sad what the toads have done, the station I hang out on in the NT had none of them eight years ago and there were lots of goannas and water monitors. Since the toads arrived about seven years ago, we don't see any anymore. We have found lots of dead freshies, barra etc.. They said it would destroy the whole ecology of Kakadu when they got there and they are there now.

Deciple of Keith ,
No experience with cane toads but played a lot of golf . I'd have thought that provided the fences aren't too high you could probably lob one about 3 doors down with a four iron ? Is it necessary to wear your wet weather gear when playing toad golf ? Imagine it could get a bit messy .
Must make for pretty good offhand practice with the old air gun too .
BTW , I was quite amused by your comparison of possums and roo shooters at a BBQ .

Are you Aussies still allowed to own BB and pellet guns? If so, toads make excellent targets. I'd imagine they'd be great for teaching the kids marksmenship skills. Plenty of targets hopping around and all.

Yes ,we can own BB guns and such. In my area ,a few of my freinds have good scoped .22 air rifles which we use for sniping toads at longish ranges. 22 winchester Zs are even quieter than air rifles ,so these get a workout from our verandah over a red wine or two. Beats watching neighbours on TV. Once my 14 cal is up and running ,I will be looking into building a 10 cal on a shortened hornet case ,just for toads.

How about convincing the Japanese and Chinese that they are delicious and a secret aphrodesiac? I'd suspect that if a campaign like that were successful, you'd have to put them on the CITES red book within 3 years!

quote:

How about convincing the Japanese and Chinese that they are delicious and a secret aphrodesiac? I'd suspect that if a campaign like that were successful, you'd have to put them on the CITES red book within 3 years!

Sarge

With the toxins that toads have it's the Japs and Chinese that would be on the CITES red book Sarge.

I like a pitching wedge ort Big Bertha driver to help with Toads


Beefa

quote:

Originally posted by loboga:
Its very sad what the toads have done, the station I hang out on in the NT had none of them eight years ago and there were lots of goannas and water monitors. Since the toads arrived about seven years ago, we don't see any anymore. We have found lots of dead freshies, barra etc.. They said it would destroy the whole ecology of Kakadu when they got there and they are there now.

Cane toads really are the least of the worries for Kakadu, there are millions of orientals who know nothing about Aboriginal Land Rights or Natural Heretage Listing casting their eyes that way. They'll probably find some way to eat the toads.

quote:

Originally posted by Oldsarge:
How about convincing the Japanese and Chinese that they are delicious and a secret aphrodesiac? I'd suspect that if a campaign like that were successful, you'd have to put them on the CITES red book within 3 years!

Funny you should say that! Toad venoms are a potent cocktail of all sorts of interesting chemicals and are indeed used in traditional chinese and japanese medicine.

http://www.herbasin.com/database/chanshu.htm

I once heard about trials of cane toad to try and open up the market (the chinese traditionally use different species) ... but this was years ago & I haven't heard any more.

The chinese preparation is also sold as an "aphrodisiac" though this isn't traditional:

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00039633.htm