Cane toad trap lights

[snakecatcher]

I have been collecting (and humanely disposing of) cane toads from my backyard for a couple of years now and after collecting at least 2000 of the buggers I think it is time to automate the process a little. A while ago I saw a chap from the Northern Territory show his design for a cane toad trap on ABC's new inventors and was most impressed with the idea and have decided the time has come to build one assuming I can find the time. The trap requires lights to attract insects and then the toads and ideally I would like these to be solar powered but I don't know if I could get one bright enough, the ones in garden centres and hardware stores are way too weak for the purpose but are there any camping ones around that might do the trick?

Thanks

Mike

[Gorilla_in_Manila]

Hi Mike,
Sounds like you are talking about one of those blue bug zapper type bulbs.

Why not have a go with just a normal white bulb 12 volt "versa" style fluro light first. They seem to attract a fair few insects when camping.

They only draw about 1 amp, so relatively small 12 volt battery, trickle charger and solar panel would do the job. You could try it out first with a spare car battery (conventionally charged) to see if it works before spending all the dough on the solar panel and charger.

Cheers
Jeff
PS Head lamp and a 7 iron still seems good enough to me for those buggers. >
Need a bit of loft to clear the back fence.

[choppa]

well i never,,,,, at first i thought your having a go at us,,,, but no i apologise,,, there is a cane toad trap,,

yes its true,,,

reading the article,, dont go a bright light as this leaves a ball of insects on the outer of the trap that the toadies can feast on

the trick is apparently to have a dim light that attracts more toadies to the inside and WHAMO,,fresh cane toad

what do ya do with them then,,,

i'ld chuck em over the fence for the neighbour to worry about

ya learn something new on this site everyday,,,,,,,,cane toad trap,,, i never

[Gorilla_in_Manila]

Choppa,
They had a comp not long back up in the NT to design the best trap. I think I read that it was the winner of that comp that went on to show it on the inventors programme.
Cheers
jeff
PS the one in your pic looks like it would double for muddies.

[choppa]

you guys deal with em your way,,,,,,,

[shayned]

Do you know one of the funniest things I've ever seen was a couple of years ago on the practice putting green at Mango Hill Golf Course. Six or seven blokes standing around swinging putters when out of the blue, middle of the day, a cane toad swings past at a slow hop along the side of the green. Almost to a man everyone started moving towards golf bags at the same time 'cause everyone knows you need a lofted club to play that shot properly. I must have been the only humane one there because I was just checking if I had a spare plastic bag so I could put the poor bugger in the freezer, scouts honour!

[Louis]

I'm with you Choppa in the, "Well I Never", boat.

This is the first, I have heard of, a Cane Toad Trap.

What will they think of next?



Louis

[snakecatcher]

Thanks for the input I'll let you know the results although it maybe a while before I can finish the thing. Collecting the little bastards has definitely made a difference, when I first started it was not unusual to get 70 in a night from just my yard now I am "lucky" if I get 10 and I have noticed a lot more frogs etc around.

Cheers

Mike

[mitch_05]

choppa,

love the name of your seond pic "choppa's peacemakers"

[cool_deaf_dude]

you are not allowed to use the shotgun but go to your shed and find a golf club and then go and have some fun

cool dude

[TinarooTriumph]

Yeah, #3 Wood and a torch.... WHACK. If you hit the bastard hard and far enough you won't have to worry about collecting him the next day

Ive heard of lots of people freezing them, burning them, whatever - they are pests, they are not suppose to be dealt with in a humane way!. I dont know how bad toads are down your way, but up here you could easily pick up atleast 50 of them in about an hour of walking around our place. Jyst get rit of them...

[snakecatcher]

[quote author=TinarooTriumph link=1151307014/0#10 date=1151892606]Ive heard of lots of people freezing them, burning them, whatever - they are pests, they are not suppose to be dealt with in a humane way!.quote]

Yes they are a pest and a bad one but that doesn't mean they deserve to be mistreated. After all its not their fault that some stupid scientists decided to let some go in 1935!

[TinarooTriumph]

Oh so your on the cane toads side now .

Yeah I guess its not their fault... are those scientists still around? They deserve to have their limbs broken as far as im concerned. Just look at what Cane Toads have done to fishing in the Northern Territory... if my facts are right, they can poisen croc's and other species, and not just those in water. And they spread like wildfire in a mass of numbers - not good for anyone!. Toads are the Tilapia and carp on land...

My Suggestion... just get rit of them one by one!. Whether in a humane way or belting them around with a 9 Iron... just do it. For everyones sake it needs to be done.

Theo

[nev-e]

Fill a spray bottle with Dettol and give em a squirt. No more toad.

[choppa]

you are not allowed to use the shotgun
cool dude

don't be silly cool dude,,,, i just point it at em and talk really sternly,,,,,(i dont own any golf stick things)