Families and various levels of Government supported the day as they banded together to make an impact in the plague proportion.

The event was supported by Townsville, Cairns, Charters Towers, Burdekin and Hinchinbrook Shires.

In Townsville last Sunday, hundreds turned out between 9am and 11am bringing in toads in various containers for the weigh in.

Organisers said 105 families brought in the pests to be weighed in for a total of 362kg.

The majority were euthanased humanely with carbon dioxide gas.

Toads had to be brought in alive and unharmed and caught the night before.

The team which brought in heaviest total weight of toads was from

Rupertswood and made up of Frank Rains, Will Webster, Ryan Rains, Liam Rains, Pippa Rains and Alex Richards.

“We caught 520 toads last night weighing about 47kgs using torches around streets at Rupertswood,” Frank said.

One Kelso woman who weighed in a giant toad tipping the scales at more than 400grams said it had been feeding on dog food.

Dalrymple State MP Shane Knuth and his son Joel Knuth, aged 16, brought in more than 300 smaller toads.

Mr Knuth, a long time campaigner for an active eradication program, had the idea for the day more than a year ago and said it was an amazing success.

“These are toxic pests which eat out native wildlife and animals and there are millions around Queensland and they are hopping into the NT and WA,” Mr Knuth said.

“I hope all Councils participate next year.”

Townsville City Council’s Environment and Sustainability Committee chairman Vern Veitch said the number of toads weighed in had exceeded his expectations.

“This is all about education about how much a pest toads are,” Cr

Veitch said.

Cane toads were collected in Hawaii and released at Gordonvale in North Queensland, Australia in 1935 to control cane beetles.

With estimations of about 200 million cane toads within Australia now, the initial introduction is widely regarded as one of the worst environmental mistakes in the country’s history.