Originally introduced in Australia during the 1930s to control sugar cane beetles, cane toads are now marching across Australia, poisoning millions of animals - from lizards to crocodiles to family pets. It has become a menace due to its poisonous toxins. To control them, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is urging the use of hemorrhoid cream. Applying a dollop of cream on a toad's back will put it to sleep, allowing it to be picked up, bagged and frozen.
Cane Toad
Hemorrhoid cream makes them sleepy
Currently, people are using golf clubs and cricket bats to control them. When one is seen, it's whacked. Unfortunately, a problem is created by having rotting toad carcasses drawing flies and littering the environment, not at all unlike Congress. The RSPCA promotes levying fines for toad whacking.
A suggested method of cleaning the mess is to collect the toad carcasses, and mix them with an alkaline solution to create a decomposed toad soup which can be used as fertilizer. An environmental group of "frog conscious" members called FrogWatch hopes the fertilizer will be ultimately sold to the public. It's said to be great for pawpaws.
With the appointment of a frog guru as regional coordinator among various toad fighting groups in northern Australia, hopefully the war against the pest will be more organized and effective.
[Update 03/28/07]
Post repeated.
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