FAQ

CROAKED™ is extremely effective – our studies show that toads are typically sedated within a minute, and euthanized within 8 to 10 minutes. Progress from sedation to euthanasia is independent of toad size, meaning one application is enough to humanely euthanise any toad, be they a 20g juvenile or a 700g adult.

The active ingredient in CROAKED™ is eugenol. Eugenol is commonly used as a fragrant additive in aftershave lotions, bath products, moisturizers, shampoos, soaps, and skin and hair products. Eugenol is also used as a flavoring agent in some food products and is used in dentistry for its anaesthetic properties. The inactive components of CROAKED™ are common emulsifiers also used in foods and cosmetics.  The everyday use of these ingredients demonstrates the unique safety of CROAKED™, however, upon accidental exposure it is advised the user wash the affected area with water until the product is removed. If irritation occurs or persists, consult a doctor.

Eugenol is an essential oil extracted from clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, basil and bay trees.  It is commonly used in perfumes and as a food flavoring agent. In aquaculture, eugenol is used as an aquatic anaesthetic for handling fish in a humane, welfare-approved manner. The specialized formulation of CROAKED™ is designed to promote the diffusion of eugenol across the skin membrane of the toad and into the circulatory system. There it acts on the toad’s central nervous system, and renders the animal insensible to external stressors and threats. CROAKED™ is the most humane method for euthanizing toads currently available to homeowners and commercial operators.

Absolutely! CROAKED™ is safe for use around pets. The biggest risk to pets is the toads themselves – cats and dogs can be killed by the toxins in a toad’s skin simply by picking it up in their mouth. Once you have used CROAKED™ to humanely kill toads on your property, remember to collect them and dispose of immediately to prevent your pets from coming into contact with them. Always wear gloves when handling cane toads.

Yes! To limit their exposure, however, it is advised that all users wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and protective glasses when using CROAKED™ and handling toads.

It sure is! As with pets, the biggest risk to native animals is the toads themselves.  It is important to collect toads after they have been euthanized to reduce the risk of interaction with native animals. Always wear gloves when handling cane toads.

Yes, CROAKED™ is safe for use around fish ponds and other waterways where aquatic life exists. The active ingredient in CROAKED™ is a known and safe anaesthetic agent for aquatic animals. The amount of CROAKED™ that would be required to accidentally kill a fish is substantial. For example, 100 ml of CROAKED™ is required to euthanize the fish in a typical 0.5m³ backyard pond, and it would be impossible to euthanize the fish within a dam or stream with one pack of CROAKED™ alone. While this demonstrates the products safety to aquatic animals, using CROAKED™ around waterways should always be done responsibly.

Like cane toads, native frogs and other species of toads are susceptible to CROAKED™, so always identify your target first. However, if you accidentally apply CROAKED™ to the back of a native frog, acting quickly can reverse the effects. You will need to hold the frog under running water for 1 minute to remove the product from its skin. The degree of success will depend on minimizing the time elapsed between applying CROAKED™ and washing it off. Our studies have shown this window to be ~2 to 3 minutes.

Our studies indicate that there is no pain associated with the application or mode of action of CROAKED™.  If left undisturbed, toads have been known to fall asleep and die in the same location that they were treated. The lack of response suggests that CROAKED™ does not cause a burning sensation or any other form of discomfort to the toads.

Classifying “death” in aquatic animals can be difficult. We consider death in cane toads to be at the point where there is no reaction to external stimuli in combination with an absence of breathing response for ~5 minutes.

After the toads have been treated and are confirmed to be dead, they should be collected and disposed of in the general waste. Do not leave them lying around where exposure to pets and wildlife is possible. Remember to always wear gloves when handling cane toads.

One bottle can treat up to 150 toads. This makes CROAKED™ a very cost-effective option to control the pest in your yard or your local shire.

Based on the science and the nature of the active ingredient, CROAKED™ is the only completely humane way to kill toads currently available on the market.

CROAKED™ is an oil-based product, and as such it may leave oil marks on some surfaces such as masonry, concrete and tiles. Care should be taken to avoid over-spraying CROAKED™ on non-target surfaces, however if this does occur the area can usually be cleaned down with water and detergent.

As CROAKED™ is a concentrated product it can have some burn-off effect on turf and the foliage of other garden plants. This is typically an isolated discolouration or burn that recovers within a few weeks. It’s recommended that when using CROAKED™ over-spraying on lawns and other garden plants is avoided, as much as possible and practical.

The amount of CROAKED™ that would be required to accidentally kill a fish;

A 150L indoor fishtank;
CROAKED™: 30 mL – or more than 2 tablespoons

A 2000L medium/large outdoor pond
CROAKED™: 400 mL – or more than 1 bottle

A 80,000L small dam
CROAKED™: 16,000 mL – or more than 40 bottles