Toad News
RESULTS
RESULTS: THE GREAT TOAD MUSTER 2010
Stop the Toad’s fifth annual Great Toad Muster was held from
11th September until 11th October 2010. The focus in previous years
has been to reduce the number of cane toads entering WA. The aim
for the 2010 Muster was to protect biologically significant areas
surrounding the WA/NT border, aswell as trying to reduce the number
of cane toads already in The Kimberley and heading towards the Kimberley.
To achieve these goals, three base camps were set up near Point
Springs Nature Reserve, inside the Keep River National Park and
on the edges of the Ramsar listed Lake Argyle.
A total of 20,641 cane toads, as well as 18kgs
of metamorphs and 8kgs tadpoles, were removed from these significant
areas with your help. This figure may be lower than previous years,
but is due to the fact that our focus changed from trying to remove
as many toads as possible to protecting specific areas from toads.
We were also working very close to the frontline, so toads had not
had the chance to establish large populations in these areas.
Breakdown of results - Total 20,641
Look out Springs base camp 3,216
Keep River National Park base camp 7,243
Lake Argyle - Matilda creek base camp 10,182
POINT SPRING NATURE RESERVE FENCE PROJECT
A very exciting project that took place during the Muster was the
Point Spring Nature Reserve fencing project. In conjuction with
the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), STTF attached
2km of toad proof fence to an existing cattle fence inside the nature
reserve. The aim is to keep toads out of this unique rainforest
system while allowing native animals to move freely in and out of
the fenced area.
Adjustments were made to the fence to account for native snakes,
bandicoots, blue-tongue lizards and wallabies (see pictures below).
The motion detector cameras set along the fence as part of Pippa’s
honours project will hopefully give us more of an insight into the
interactions between native animals, toads and the fence. These
data could then be used to determine future land management control
methods for toads. Thankyou to everyone who put alot of effort and
blood, sweat and tears into the first ever toad fence in Western
Australia!
A SPECIAL THANK YOU
My deepest gratitude goes to all those who volunteered their time
and efforts at this year’s Muster. Special thanks must be
made to the set up and pack down crew- never an easy job in 45 degree
heat or early wet season storms. Special thanks also goes to Delma
Edwards, Michael Lohf, Reg Geary, Frank Longbottom, Gary Pike, Patsy
Harmer, Brendan McGill, Lucy Simnett and Jim Rasmussen, who all
played vital roles in the logistics of this years Muster. You make
my job so much easier and so worth it. Love Kim xxx
Also
available here (1.5 Mb pdf in new window)
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