Toad Gold

Track of the day - The Train and the River - Jimmy Giuffre.

I received an email yesterday suggesting that there might be gold in them thar Bogsville toads and frogs.

According to my source,
"The ever-resourceful Aussies have found uses for their toad haul. The carcasses are brewed with liquid molasses and fish emulsifier to form a foul-smelling brown 'toad juice', which has proved to be a highly effective fertiliser.
The first batch will go on sale this week in Darwin for about £5 a bottle. Preliminary results have shown it is especially good for growing bananas and papayas.
And Paul Cowdy, from the conservation group Frogwatch, reckons he has found another profitable use for the toads.
'I've started skinning them for their leather,' says Mr Cowdy, originally from Salisbury, Wilts. 'It's hard-wearing and attractive - you can make purses, wallets, mobile phone covers.'"

This is a definite improvement on the toad control advice from Australia that I reported on way back in April 2005,
when the preferred control method was to "hit them with cricket bats and golf clubs and the like."

If the Bogsville pond ever gets invaded by Cane Toads that allegedly eat everything from dog food to mice and keep growing until they reach 25cm in length and weigh over 4 kilos each, I might well be in a frame of mind to make my fortune from them.
Until then, my little buddies in the pond are quite safe and I'll remain a pauper.