Invasive Species

The Cane Toad, native to South and Central America, is a large toad whose olive and red brown skin help it blend in easily against predators. The Cane Toad helped make its way into Australia in 1935 when it was ironically released in sugar plantations in Northern Queensland to fight off the invasive French Cane Beetle and Greyback Cane Beetle. The Cane Toad, now located in Queensland, New South Wales, Northen Territory, and even recently in Western Australia. The Cane Toad also survives because of its high toleration to difficult environments. It ranges from urban areas, to wooded areas, and to grass areas. The Cane Toad has a negative effect to Australia because it is very poisonous. Every stage of the toad is poisonous, even the tadpole stage. This is devastating for its predators, including the egret, snakes, fish, and even crocodiles. The government has had many ideas to try and fix the problems. These ideas include ijecting them with viruses, creating sterile males, setting up fences, and using a lung parasite to weaken the toad. So far none of these ideas have had a huge effect on the toad. Another invasive animal that is ruining ecosystems is the wild boar. The wild boar was released into the United States around the 1500's for food and game. Many boars escaped their fences and reproduced. The boar is a major problem because it competes with many other animals, such as bears, bobcats, and foxes, for food. This competition is a negative effect for the other animals becuase the wild boar is a massive fighter. In order to stop the boar, people have places fences to contain the boar but usually the fences are not strong enough and way too expensive. People have also tried hunting and trapping and in Oklahoma there are not any rules on hunting of the wild boar. Some of the predators include bobcats and hawks who feed on young boars, but these predators do not do enough damage towards the boars population. I believe invasive species are a huge problem because the effects they have on ecosystems can be drastic. Becuase native species are not used to the invasive species, the invasive ones are usually unharmed when first brought in but do many harm. While Australia is having a bigger stuggle economically with rabbits and other invasive species, America also has its fair share. Carp and other species are effecting the wildlife and devastating whole populations.

A massive wild boar                     map of current population of cane toad and predicted areas