Kelly
23-03-2011, 07:58 AM
Almost the entire population of one tiny outback Queensland town has enlisted to help stop cane toads spreading into the Channel Country.
Cane toads had never been seen at Stonehenge, south west of Longreach, before late last year, but recent big rain and flooding has caused an explosion of the numbers moving into the region.
Publican Judy Baldry says most of the town's 30 residents have joined a "toad busting" group to help eradicate them.
"The whole town is in it we've been recycling old bread bags," she said.
"We just gather them up in plastic bags shine the torch in their eyes so that they're a bit blinded, and then come up and just put them in a plastic bag and throw them in the freezer.
"Several other people in town have got the Dettol spray handy, but I like the freezing idea better."
Ms Baldry says she is not surprised there has been so much enthusiasm for a new "toad busting" effort in the outback.
"There are more and more all the time you see them dead on the roads," she said.
"The kangaroo shooters run them over in the middle of the night we just see them around all the time.
"Every time it rains there seems to be a new batch hatch out or suddenly appear.
"I just think everyone should do their bit I don't say we'll ever halt them but if we could slow them down, it'd be a great thing."
Cane toads had never been seen at Stonehenge, south west of Longreach, before late last year, but recent big rain and flooding has caused an explosion of the numbers moving into the region.
Publican Judy Baldry says most of the town's 30 residents have joined a "toad busting" group to help eradicate them.
"The whole town is in it we've been recycling old bread bags," she said.
"We just gather them up in plastic bags shine the torch in their eyes so that they're a bit blinded, and then come up and just put them in a plastic bag and throw them in the freezer.
"Several other people in town have got the Dettol spray handy, but I like the freezing idea better."
Ms Baldry says she is not surprised there has been so much enthusiasm for a new "toad busting" effort in the outback.
"There are more and more all the time you see them dead on the roads," she said.
"The kangaroo shooters run them over in the middle of the night we just see them around all the time.
"Every time it rains there seems to be a new batch hatch out or suddenly appear.
"I just think everyone should do their bit I don't say we'll ever halt them but if we could slow them down, it'd be a great thing."