Deadly cane toads have escaped Queensland again, hopping across the border into New South Wales.

A Newcastle family spotted two of the poisonous pests in as many weeks – one of which reached their doorstep.

Beck Steele trapped the cane toad in a container until it was collected by the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

“We’ve got cats and those cats are quite at risk with the poison glands of these toads,” he told 10 News Plus.

The toads have a powerful toxin used to defend themselves if attacked by predators, and researchers say that Australian goannas, freshwater crocodiles, quolls, blue-tongued skinks and red-bellied black snakes can die from small doses of the poison.

So, what can be done to stop the invasion of cane toads?

The invasive species were introduced in 1935 to control cane beetles destroying Queensland’s sugar cane crops. Now there are 200 million cane toads in northern parts of our country and they spread at a pace of about 50 kilometres every year.

A single toad can have up to 30,000 eggs.

Biologist Rick Shrine said that while he is looking into genetic manipulation to stop tadpoles from turning into baby toads, the focus right now is on controlling breeding rather than completely eradicating them.

He has been working in Western Australia, training native predators not to eat cane toads.

“A predator that eats a small toad gets sick, but it doesn’t die,” he said. “It learns not to eat other toads and so when the big toads turn up, the predators leave them alone.

“It’s worked like a charm.”

Australians – particularly in Waratah, NSW – are being urged not to harm the animal. Sightings should be reported to the NSW Department of Primary Industries or on “ToadScan” to help prevent the invasive pest from establishing locally.

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