A cane toad found near Batemans Bay in February was likely a lone invader, the Eurobodalla Shire Council says.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The council conducted four creek surveys after the Benjamin family heard the male cane toad in a creek backing their Catalina home.
After the family recorded the cane toad's call, they were then able to attract and catch the noxious pest the following evening.
Eurobodalla Shire Council took "immediate action" to counter the biological threat, working with the Local Lands Service to survey the area.
They contacted a professional frog expert and conducted four "intensive" surveys of Catalina's creeks and waterways, Eurobodalla Shire Council's Invasive Species Officer Paul Martin said.
We were very lucky this was a male - a female can lay a staggering 30,000 eggs at a time ... it's a great example of citizen science protecting our shire.
- Paul Martin
"We found hundreds of native frogs - which is great - but no sign of any other cane toads," Mr Martin said.
"We've had some reports of cane toads in the shire but so far they have all turned out to mostly be native frogs.
"Bibron's toadlet can superficially look like a juvenile cane toad, as can Peron's tree frog - we've had quite a few reports of those guys."
Mr Martin urged residents to report any unusual sightings or calls, but not to kill frogs they may find.
"A lot of our tree frogs are actually brown and they don't look like those green tree frogs that you see on the postcards," Mr Martin said.
"They're really special little frogs, so we don't want people killing them.
"You can get the Frog ID app on your phone and record their call, or you could take a photograph and send it to us."
Mr Martin said the shire was lucky.
"With the climate warming up, cane toads could establish a population here," Mr Martin said.
"We were very lucky this was a male - a female can lay a staggering 30,000 eggs at a time."
The council understood the toad hitch-hiked into the area.
Mr Martin praised the Benjamins for their quick work.
"It's a great example of citizen science protecting our shire," he said.
