'Thousands' of cane toads found

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Staff Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

THOUSANDS of Cane toadlets have been found over the past few weeks at Lyford Cay, Minister of State for Environment Kenred Dorsett said yesterday.

Since the public was alerted to the invasive species earlier this month, Mr Dorsett said more than 200 adult Cane Toads have been caught and killed.

“My team,” he said, “has continued to go out into the Lyford Cay area. The team has been going out at night, they’re nocturnal so they’ve been coming out onto the golf course. The department of Environmental Health Services, Agriculture veterinarians, the Bahamas National Trust and other stakeholders have been working together, we advise Bahamians to be vigilant, to understand your environment, and if you see something that resembles a Cane Toad notify us.”

The invasive species of toad has enough mucous poison to kill small animals, and was discovered in western New Providence by a Lyford Cay resident.

The Cane Toad, which can produce around 30,000 eggs at once and possibly twice in its life cycle, was identified on August 8.

However, Mr Dorsett said anecdotal evidence suggests that the species may have been in the country for much longer.

A Cane Toad responds to a threat by turning side-on so its glands are directed towards the attacker. The poison usually oozes out of the glands, but toads can squirt a fine spray for a short distance if they are handled roughly.

Mr Dorsett said the government has enlisted the support of the Food Agricultural Organization, and have been killing the toads by catching and freezing them. 

Mr Dorsett said: “It seems to be there have been very few reports to us outside of (Lyford Cay). I would like the public to continue to be vigilant. It is an invasive species and we want to see a proper plan to ensure it doesn’t spread throughout the island and elsewhere.”

Comments

whit4120 says...

I hope that if they find who was responsible for introducing these toad to the Bahamas that they introduce a taste of swift justice to that person !

Posted 27 September 2013, 3:34 p.m. Suggest removal

jt says...

These toads rode in legally in landscaping material from S. Florida, where they are well established. Remember when we didn't have house geckos? Pestiferous millepedes? Corn snakes? All hitchhiked in with Dade County palms and trees (okay, the geckos may have been in shipping containers). Until we start propagating our own (hopefully native) trees, this will continue to happen. Up next from S. Florida: African giant snails? Guinea rats? Reticulated pythons? Think about it...

Posted 27 September 2013, 4:28 p.m. Suggest removal

concerned799 says...

jt: Ban the import of foreign plants/trees. We have enough lovely fauna here already.

Posted 27 September 2013, 11:52 p.m. Suggest removal

4renbahamian says...

Then how will the political parties get their big campaign donations, they can only cut deals locally if they bring in a Mexican to grow them because they will say Bahamain dont have the experience.

Posted 28 September 2013, 9:37 a.m. Suggest removal

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