Issue link: http://kathy-ralph.uberflip.com/i/497737
My farm is truly blessed © Kathy Ralph 2011 Cane Toads This is not a very clear photo of The Cane Toad but it's the only one I have. They brought him into Australia as a super hero, a pied piper of bugs. Now they damn him. Is he at fault or are we? We are told in order to kill them humanely (???) we should put them in the freezer. It's painless and kind they say. I have never spoken with a cane toad that says "Wow what a great way to go." Have you? I am truly a sit on the fence person about these creatures. As much as I have been taught to despise them, and fear for my other littles I am fortunate not to have had an animal poisoned by them. Regardless… I still find it hard to kill one of God's Pets. It is native to Central and South America where it is looked upon as a beautiful animal and cruelty to it is deplored. Not so here! The pests of Queensland! They have spread south and west to areas where there is no cane. Their venom is extremely toxic to other animals. Family pets have died after ingesting toad Graham my nephew took these photos the first night I brought my camera home. To this day I believe they are gems. This little cane toad lived in the pot plant outside my office door. He never bothered anyone; he was the original venom. They were released in the Cane fields of Far North Queensland in 1935. Why? To control the Grey- back and Frenchi Beetles whose larvae stunts cane growth. They had little or no effect. Now here in Brisbane, we regularly see them in our backyards. Toad in The Hole! The cats never bothered him, the Dog never bothered him and he never bothered anyone. In the evening he would hop out of his pot and catch the mosquitoes and other bugs that were attracted to the lights.