By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

NEARLY 400 cane toads have been captured and “humanely disposed of” by Lyford Cay residents and the Bahamas National Trust, BNT director of science and policy Vanessa Haley-Benjamin said yesterday.

Speaking with The Tribune, Mrs Benjamin said up to October 15, a total of 374 cane toads were caught since the campaign to contain them began in September.

“It’s a co-ordinated effort of BNT and many volunteers. It looks like the cane toad is just in the Lyford Cay area for now. We are seeing the adult population decrease however, the tadpoles are still a problem.

“We are still finding lots of them in water bodies in Lyford Cay. Our efforts are on going because we all know the biology, one female can make 30,000 eggs so if we miss one, its a fight all in itself,” she said.

“We are actively targeting adults and treating the pond. The strategy is still to control it as best we can. We have had lots of calls and emails of sightings outside the Lyford Cay community but none of them have been confirmed.

“It all goes back to education and making people aware of what the native frogs looks like.”

The first cane toad was identified on August 8 by a Lyford Cay resident who then notified the BNT.

The cane toad can be dangerous to humans, as it responds to threats by turning side-on and aiming special glands at its target.

Poison usually oozes out of the glands, but the toads can also squirt a fine spray over a short distance if handled roughly.

Residents across the island are being cautioned to avoid making contact with the toads as they can cause severe skin irritation, and serious illness and even death if eaten.

Officials also urged persons to avoid leaving pet food outside as it is a favourite food of the toads.

Several biology websites have said the cane toad eats anything it can swallow including beetles, honey bees, ants, winged termites, crickets and bugs.

Occasionally, it may consume marine snails, smaller toads, native frogs, small snakes, and small mammals.