Damage Prevention and Control Methods

Exclusion

Great Plains toad, Bufo cognatus

The effectiveness of exclusion depends in part on the species involved. Most species responsible for potential or real damage can be effectively excluded from limited areas. Giant toads (southern Florida, extreme southern Texas) or Colorado River toads (southern Arizona, extreme southeastern California) can be excluded from pet enclosures by placing a strip of 1/8-inch (0.3-cm) mesh hardware cloth along the outside base of the perimeter fence. The hardware cloth should be buried at least 4 inches (10 cm) in the ground and should extend to a height of at least 20 inches (50 cm). A similar exclusion fence can be used to control breeding aggregations of nonclimbing species in small, urban stormwater detention basins or to exclude these species from small hatchery ponds. Although treefrogs and some related species will readily climb such a fence, most treefrogs normally breed in seasonal, fish-free waters. In addition, their eggs and tadpoles are readily eaten by fish, so they do not usually present a significant problem on fish farms.

Habitat Modification

Keep the shoreline of ponds free of emergent vegetation to minimize cover for adult frogs and allow predators to assist in control. Efforts to directly remove adult frogs at night will also be facilitated.

Frightening

Not applicable.

Repellents

None are registered.

Toxicants

None are registered.

Fumigants

None are registered.

Trapping

Place funnel traps along the base of a perimeter fence. Toads may also be trapped by burying several 5-gallon (19-l) buckets flush with the ground surface beneath an overhead light. Toads attracted by the insects drawn to the light will fall into the buckets and be unable to escape. Caution: traps may capture other nontarget species, including snakes, turtles, and small mammals.

Capture

Frogs can be located at night by the reflection of their eyes in the beam of a headlamp. They can be collected by gig or hand. Captured frogs may be eaten, or where allowed by law, sold to provide additional economic returns. Check with your state wildlife agency regarding seasons, bag limits, legal methods of take, and restrictions on sale.

Shooting

Although shooting is allowable in some states, it is not safe in some areas requiring control.