WEST AUSTRALIAN (Perth) 11 July 11 Toads develop new tactics to avoid capture (Louise Burke)
Cane toads invading the far north of WA are learning disturbing new behaviours to avoid capture by humans.
Kimberley Toadbusters field co-ordinator Ben Scott-Virtue said the toads had started hopping away from the group's volunteers.
"The most amazing thing is when we go out with our high-powered torches at night to collect them, the toads are running," Mr Scott-Virtue said. "The moment we stop the car and open the door, they are off."
This behaviour did not happen "behind the line" in the Northern Territory and appeared to be a new tactic from the toads.
"Any of those areas which have been colonised for quite a while, the toads happily sit there as you come up with a torch and pick them up," Mr Scott-Virtue said.
"It's certainly a learned response and it's a response from human predation on the toad."
Teams of about 16 people go out every night of the year to collect cane toads, which have advanced to Molly Springs, about 30km west of Kununurra.
The toads have also been found within about 20km of World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park, which is famous for the Bungle Bungle Range.
Eighty-two-year-old Bob Wainwright still volunteers with Toadbusters.
"These little bastards are taking a might more effort to bag than they used to," he said.
Toads develop new tactics to avoid capture

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