Damp days mean its time for Toad Patrol
A few days of damp weather have signaled that its spring migration time to Sussex toads! This can put them in danger as they make their way across country roads.
A few days of damp weather have signaled that its spring migration time to Sussex toads! This can put them in danger as they make their way across country roads.
WWT Arundel Wetland Centre Reserve manager Paul Stevens and Wildfowl & Wetlands staff have been staying late to rescue crossing toads on the road and moving them onto the safety of the wetland reserve. Mill Road in front of the wetland centre is an active toad crossing point, listed with the Department of Transport on the registry of amphibian crossing points.
WWT Arundel Wetland Centre Reserve manager Paul Stevens and Wildfowl & Wetlands staff have been staying late to rescue crossing toads on the road and moving them onto the safety of the wetland reserve. Mill Road in front of the wetland centre is an active toad crossing point, listed with the Department of Transport on the registry of amphibian crossing points.
Paul Stevens said “We hope motorists will keep an eye out for toads on these rainy nights. On Thurs 28 Feb we rescued over 100 toads, 2 frogs and 2 palmate newts all attempting to cross. Sadly we also found 19 toads killed by cars.”
Toads travel at night to avoid being eaten by crows and other predators. In damp, mild weather toads will travel up to three miles to return to breed in the waters where they were spawned. Common toads are recognized as being of priority importance for the conservation of biodiversity under Section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006.
