Teen's passion for frogs leads to cane toad spotted in Catalina
Charlotte Benjamin, 13, of Catalina, with dad Steve, and brother Tom, 11, and their cane toad-catching kit.
A 13-year-old's passion for frogs may have saved the Eurobodalla Shire from ecological invasion of the cane toad, the council says.
Charlotte Benjamin and her family heard a frog call they couldn't identify in the creek backing their Catalina home.
They turned to the Frog ID phone app and Eurobodalla Natural History Society for help.
"Finally my wife asked what a cane toad sounded like," Charlotte's father, Steve, said.
Eurobodalla Shire Council commenced a high-level biosecurity response.
Using a recording of the cane toad's own call, the Benjamins were able to attract and catch the noxious pest, which was taken to a vet to be positively identified and dissected.
The council surveyed the Catalina waterway on Friday night and a specialist ecologist was brought in for a formal study to detect if more cane toads were present.
"Fortunately, the Benjamin's toad proved to be male. Female cane toads lay a staggering 30,000 eggs in a single spawning," the council said. The council would continue monitoring.
Invasive species officer Paul Martin said it was an amazing example of citizen science protecting the shire.
The toad's gut contents should confirm how long the poisonous amphibian had been in the shire.
Mr Martin said the toad may have arrived as frog spawn in a vehicle from up north and begged the question, "are there more out there?"
"Wildlife are struggling after fires and drought. It would be devastating if cane toads became established - that could destroy our birds, goannas, fish...it's really quite scary," Mr Martin said.
Steve Benjamin shows a photo of the cane toad his family caught in the creek bordering their Catalina backyard to Eurobodalla Shire Councils Invasive Species Officer Paul Martin.
Mr Martin said if more toads were found the matter would escalate.
"That would require intervention and a trapping program by the NSW Government," he said.
"Residents can help too. Listen to the cane toad's call online - it's a pretty unusual call. Keep an ear out and report any suspicious calls to Council."
For cane toad identification and call, visit https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/pest-animals-and-weeds/pest-animals/cane-toads/how-to-identify-a-cane-toad
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