Arthur W. White, 2007. "Living with Bufo", Pest or Guest: The Zoology of Overabundance, Daniel Lunney, Peggy Eby, Pat Hutchings, Shelley Burgin
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Cane toads Bufo marinus have been in Australia since 1935. Originally hailed as the potential savior of the ailing Queensland sugar cane industry, toads are now viewed as a nuisance, a scourge and a threat to Australian wildlife. In this paper, I will track the history of cane toads in Australia and investigate the changing perceptions that have ensued. Cane toads frequently make headlines when they venture into new areas, sparking a new wave of public animosity and outrage. Questions addressed: Are these responses justified or is Bufo marinus merely a highly recognizable target for public anger? Will the recent detection of a second species of toad in Australia, the Asian Black-spined toad B. melanostictus, be greeted with the same response or will it be accepted as a new arrival?