Biggest Cane Toad Yet ... !

Environmentalists dedicated to wiping out a toxic toad species that has killed countless Australian animals have captured a specimen the size of a small dog.



The volunteer-run organisation, Frogwatch, picked up the 15in-long cane toad during a raid on a pond outside the northern city of Darwin.

With a body the size of a football and weighing nearly 2lbs, the "monster toad'' is among the largest specimens ever captured in Australia, according to Frogwatch coordinator Graeme Sawyer.

"It's huge, to put it mildly,'' he said. "The biggest toads are usually females but this one was a rampant male... I would hate to meet his big sister.''

Cane toads were imported from South America during the 1930s in a failed attempt to control beetles on Australia's northern sugar cane plantations.

The poisonous toads have proved fatal to Australia's delicate ecosystems, killing millions of native animals from snakes to the small crocodiles that eat them.

As part of its so-called "Toad Buster'' project, Frogwatch conducts regular raids on local water holes, blinding the toads with bright lights then scooping them up by the dozen.

"We kill them with carbon dioxide gas, stockpile them in a big freezer and then put them through a liquid fertiliser process'' that renders the toads nontoxic, Sawyer said.

"It turns out to be sensational fertiliser.''The volunteer-run organisation, Frogwatch, picked up the 15in-long cane toad during a raid on a pond outside the northern city of Darwin.

With a body the size of a football and weighing nearly 2lbs, the "monster toad'' is among the largest specimens ever captured in Australia, according to Frogwatch coordinator Graeme Sawyer.

"It's huge, to put it mildly,'' he said. "The biggest toads are usually females but this one was a rampant male... I would hate to meet his big sister.''

Cane toads were imported from South America during the 1930s in a failed attempt to control beetles on Australia's northern sugar cane plantations.

The poisonous toads have proved fatal to Australia's delicate ecosystems, killing millions of native animals from snakes to the small crocodiles that eat them.

As part of its so-called "Toad Buster'' project, Frogwatch conducts regular raids on local water holes, blinding the toads with bright lights then scooping them up by the dozen.

"We kill them with carbon dioxide gas, stockpile them in a big freezer and then put them through a liquid fertiliser process'' that renders the toads nontoxic, Sawyer said.

"It turns out to be sensational fertiliser.''

Amphibian Training Available - THIS SATURDAY !

Hants-Surrey Border amphibian training day
for participants in NARRS: The National Amphibian Survey

A one-day training event for volunteers signed up to take part in the above amphibian survey for the National Amphibian and Reptile Recording Scheme (NARRS). Training in amphibian identification, habitat assessment, survey methods, survey protocols, recording, health & safety, licensing, and landowner permissions. Bring stout footwear, wellies and waterproofs.

Saturday 24 March 2007, 14.30-20.00
Bentley village, just off the A31 between Alton and Farnham

Meet at the Memorial Hall at the crossroads (SU 783 439),
the hall is on the NW corner

Contact (GCN expert!) Ros Hughes (RAPHughes@aol.com) to book a place. Make sure you are also registered to take part in NARRS (sign up at www.narrs.org.uk).

PROGRAMME
1430-1445 Arrive (tea/coffee)
1445-1645 Amphibian classroom session
1645-1700 Break (bring own snack)
1700-1800 Amphibian field session
1800-1900 Break (pub, Indian cuisine/meal)
1900-2000 Amphibian torchlight field session

Toads & Grassies

1st of season!
SARG member Simon Elson reported sighting of grass snake in tussucky grass adjacent to Spynes Mere nature reserve on 15th March.

Simon also wardens the Bletchingley Road toad crossing where toads have been intermittantly migrating towards Spynes Mere since February 22nd! Last year [2006] over 1600 toads were rescued and so far this year 919 toads have been helped. Over 20 volunteers have participated during this prolonged period.

Toad migrations appear to be very variable and intermittant across the County this year. Let us have your update!

That's at least one sighting of all reptile species native to Surrey this year already. Overall slightly earlier than last year. Its certainly worth a wander around your local piece of countryside !

2007 Smooth snakes

The Smooth snakes have now emerged from hibernation. Surrey is fortunate to be one of only three counties with native populations of this beautiful snake.

Slow-worms were also out this week, just leaving Grass snakes to emerge for the 'full set'.

Some pictures below, taken today, of an adult male Surrey Smooth snake. (Like Adders, the males emerge from hibernation before the reproductive females).

Pond Works

Ralph and Julia Wycherley joined a group at Hevers pond, Bletchingley last Saturday 10th March. The aim was to tidy the pond surrounds from the general dumping that had accumulated. We did not disturb the pond itself as we counted over 100 toads frantic in breeding activities - plus around 30 frogs and 14 clumps of spawn.

Sand Lizards and Adders

The reptile season has well and truely started, with both Adders and Sand lizards out today, at Crooksbury Common in Surrey.

Two Adders were out today, lying up by their hibernaculum:


Even better that early emergent Adders, was the chance sighting of my first Sand lizard of the season: This individual lizard was also the first sand lizard seen last year on 19th March 2006, so he's 2.5 weeks early this year !


Just Grass & Smooth snakes and Slow worms need to emerge, before we have the full set !

Reptiles are beginning to emerge

The beginning of March heralded my first reptile sightings of the year on the Surrey/Hants border today. Both animals were adult male common lizards, and both were fairly lethargic, easily caught and a 'bag of bones'. If this sunshine lasts a few more days they'll be fattening up and hopefully other reptiles will also emerge.