A: It sounds like you've got cane toads, those sturdy amphibians with dry, warty skin and bony heads with ridges over their eyes. They are non-native critters that have been roaming Hawai'i for a long time. They were introduced here to help control the insects that were threatening sugar cane.

Cane toads sit upright and move in short, rapid hops. They can grow 4 to 9 inches long and weigh more than 2 pounds. Adult bufos, as they are called, are active at night, often found sitting fearlessly in the open just inches away from a light awaiting flying insects.

While their normal prey is insects, they are known to eat just about any animal they can ingest, including small lizards, frogs, birds, fish, mice and even younger cane toads. They are also known to steal food from dogs and cats if food dishes are left outside.

The biggest problem with cane toads in Hawai'i seems to be their interaction with pets. The toad's parotid gland produces a milky toxic secretion, and many dogs are poisoned every year and some even die.

Living in a new subdivision in former cane land in 'Ewa Beach, you probably have it bad at times. Janelle Saneishi of the state Department of Agriculture grew up in the former cane fields of Wahiawa and remembers the toads roaming her neighborhood in waves every couple of months or so, the streets littered with their smashed carcasses.

What can you do?

Saneishi suggests clearing lush vegetation where the toads like to hide during the day, and eliminating standing water, where they breed and which attracts insects. Also, don't leave pet food out.

One other suggestion: Cane toads aren't good hoppers, so a 1 1/2-foot barrier, such as a thick hedge or a wire mesh fence, could help keep them out of your yard.