Western Australians need to prepare for the arrival of cane toads, which are now closer than ever to the WA border.

The reality is that if we have a prolonged wet season cane toads could reach Kununurra by as early as April 2009.

Cane toads (Bufo marinus) were introduced to Queensland decades ago to try to stop beetle damage in sugar cane crops. Instead, they became a major pest themselves and ever since, cane toads have been steadily moving across northern Australia.

To help fight this invasion, the WA Government is working closely with the Northern Territory Government and community groups to slow their progress while research to find a biological control for the pest continues.