Howabout some .22LR 10/22? Australia looks for ways to end cane toad menace Fri Aug 5, 7:31 AM ET



CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australian scientists were given A$3.6 million ($2.7 million) Friday to find a biological way to combat the rising population of poisonous cane toads.

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The pests have spread across northern Australia since 100 cane toads were imported from Hawaii in 1935 in a bid to fight greyback beetles, which were threatening the country's sugar cane fields.

"The cane toad is a blight on our landscape," Australia's Environment Minister Ian Campbell said.

He said the state-owned Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) will conduct research into ways of manipulating cane toad genes to stop tadpoles from becoming adult toads.

"While short-term measures like traps are important to slow the toads down, their capacity to breed means we will not stop them for good unless we find a biological solution," he said in a statement.

Australia has fought the cane toad menace for four decades but has been unable to stop the spread of the toxic creatures, which have highly poisonous sacs behind their heads that quickly kill native animals that prey upon them.

Cane toads now number in their millions and are so toxic that crocodiles, death adder snakes and wild dingo dogs can die of cardiac arrest within 15 minutes of eating them.

Australia's environment department says cane toads have been expanding their range across tropical northern Australia by up to 50 kilometers (31 miles) a year, while they are moving south by about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) a year.

Female cane toads can lay 8,000 to 35,000 eggs at a time and may produce two clutches a year. The toads reach maturity within a year and have a lifespan of at least five years.

($1=A$1.32)

well the obvious answer is to ban them with a law.  it works on violence and firearms doesnt it?

Finally, a use for the .17 HMR.

Quoted: well the obvious answer is to ban them with a law.  it works on violence and firearms doesnt it?

"For the Children!"

That's getting up there with "I'd hit it," "Shoot the dog?" etc.

Quoted: well the obvious answer is to ban them with a law.  it works on violence and firearms doesnt it?

Quoted: Finally, a use for the .17 HMR.

Damn, you two make me proud to be an ARFCOMMER.
I'm not worthy.

Quoted: Finally, a use for the .17 HMR.

Now that would be explosive! A little sub-1 pound critter would be turned into an exploding ball of meat.

Ben

Just give every 12-13 year old boy a pellet gun. Yeah, that should just about take care of it.

Quoted: Quoted: Finally, a use for the .17 HMR. Now that would be explosive! A little sub-1 pound critter would be turned into an exploding ball of meat. Ben

Exploding ball of poisonous meat.

You need a belt fed .17HMR...those bastards are EVERYWHERE by their thousands

Quoted: You need a belt fed .17HMR...those bastards are EVERYWHERE by their thousands

Since you mentioned it...

These fucking disgusting worthless invading zombie toads have over run my neighborhood.

I need a can and night vision to correctly exterminate them with my M4gery without alerting the
neighbors who'll view my actions as murdering wild-life.

They eat my dog's food and hop around my property all night long free-loading and scavenging.

Get a good look at these disgusting invaders, they will rule the world.



HS1

Originally Posted By fadedsun Cane toads now number in their millions and are so toxic that crocodiles, death adder snakes and wild dingo dogs can die of cardiac arrest within 15 minutes of eating them.

So what's the problem? Are there a lot of death adder lovers over there?

we use golf clubs and stuff :)

Quoted: well the obvious answer is to ban them with a law.  it works on violence and firearms doesnt it?

+1

Lick it....

Link

Although single toad skins are somewhat small, says Mark C. Underhill of the development office, they make "quite attractive" wallets, purses and even outerwear if artfully sewn together. If you can't lick them, join them.

Taffy

Nuke them from orbit. Only way to be sure.