ABSTRACTS
Traps and Attractants
Graeme Sawyer, Frogwatch joint co-ordinator
e-mail: graemes@entity1.com
Mobile: 0411881378
Trials by FrogWatch have shown that traps can catch all the toads in an area around a house or block in a few weeks and that once the toads are gone any new toads moving into the area seem to be quickly caught in the traps. Test sites have been kept relatively toad free by a single cage trap. Landowners have commented that they never see toads around the house anymore, except for those in the trap.
The FrogWatch ‘SuperTrap’, a trap designed for permanent set up in the bush, has been tested and has caught 543 toads in six weeks. The traps are proving to be effective during the wet season as well as the dry season which is a huge boost to our confidence that the traps will help to reduce cane toad numbers.
Keeping toad numbers suppressed in areas where the blocks of land are small and there is a reasonable density of people would seem to be achievable. But what of a broader control strategy or techniques to control toads on a broader scale?
The cage traps would appear to be able to play a significant role in capturing toads, and in large numbers. The Bonrook trial trap captured 224 in the first week and 543 in total
Weekly Capture rates |
|
Week |
Captures |
1 |
224 |
2 |
130 |
3 |
80 |
4 |
42 |
5 |
39 |
6 |
24 |
The captures and the observations of the station managers indicate a very significant and rapid decline in toad numbers. The results of the “supertrap” at Ringwood station also indicate some similar trends. So what else do we need to know about traps and what can we do with traps as a part of a broader control strategy will be the focus of the presentation. .