A second cane toad has been found close to the Hunter region in NSW in as many weeks, but authorities don’t suspect the invasive amphibians have marched – or hopped – from Queensland.
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The first cane toad was spotted and captured alive in a back yard at Summerland Point.
The second cane toad was found in Mirrabooka on Thursday, but it didn’t fare so well – it was run over and killed by a car.
Resident Graham Munsell said he had just been dropped off by a mate at his home on Dandaraga Road when he discovered the toad.
“As the car pulled away I heard a squelch and a pop, and when I went over to have a look, I could see it was a cane toad,” Mr Munsell said.
“We’re grey nomads and spend every summer in Queensland, so we know what a cane toad looks like.”
He retrieved the body and stored it in a freezer before alerting local council who sent an environmental officer out to inspect the find.
A council spokesperson told Fairfax they believed the animal had since been confirmed as a cane toad.
“In accordance with council’s vertebrate pest management strategy, we are working with the relevant state government agencies to respond to the sighting,” they said.
While cane toad populations have been spreading south into northern NSW for years, they haven’t made their way to the Hunter on foot.
At least, not yet.
“Previous sightings of cane toads in Lake Macquarie have been found to be accidentally transported on vehicles coming from Northern Australia,” the council said.
“Further investigations are being undertaken to confirm the details of this recent sighting.”
