Hunter Local Land Services has asked Eleebana residents to be on the lookout for the toads.

Since the cane toad started spreading west and south from its North Queensland home, there have been several sightings across the Hunter.

Cane toads are a serious invasive pest, which would have devastating impacts on biodiversity if allowed to establish in the region.

If residents spot a cane toad they are asked to photograph the animal and report it to NSW Department of Primary Industries via www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/ or email invasive.species@dpi.nsw.gov.au

"Always wear protective gloves and eyewear when handling potential cane toads," a statement from Local Land Services said.

"They extrude and sometimes squirt poison from glands positioned behind the head.

"The animal should be collected and held in a closed, well-ventilated, non-toxic container, with some water. Don't harm the animal."

Cane toads were originally imported into Australia in 1935 to kill the beetles that were eating the valuable sugar cane crops in north Queensland. They had been successful in protecting the cane in their native Brazil, then in the Caribbean and finally Hawaii, so it seemed a natural fit that they would do the job Down Under.

But no-one could imagine the effect a measly 101 imported cane toads would have. While only 101 cane toads were imported, females can lay up to 30,000 eggs at a time. Read more here.

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