Frogs, Toads and Newts
Why do they need help?
Why do we need to help these amphibians? In the last 10 years, over one third of traditional amphibian spawning grounds have been lost, mostly due to agricultural intensification and urban development during the 1960's. With ditches and ponds filled in, the 'common' frog, 'common' toad and 'common' newt have all become less familiar.
While many wild spawning sites have been lost, refuge is found in garden ponds which are increasing in popularity with wildlife gardening. Amphibia in the garden, far from doing any harm will in fact be very useful as they eat slugs, snails, small insects and their larvae.
Hibernation
Hibernation is a necessity for all amphibia found in the UK. Frogs occasionally hibernate in mud at the bottom of a pond, but more usually, in common with toads and newts they hide themselves away under piles of damp leaves, rotting logs and in underground tunnels.
In Spring, the amphibians emerge to migrate to their breeding grounds and spawn. This may occur as early as January or as late as April in some northern and eastern areas. Many frogs and especially toads have to cross main roads to return to their hatching ponds and are killed as a result. Toads tend to hibernate a long way from their breeding sites and so end up crossing roads more often than frogs. Teams of volunteers have been set up all over the country to patrol roads at this time, scooping toads up by the bucketful and depositing them safely on the other side of the road.
At this tme of year it is easiest to see the amphibians as they arrive at their ponds to spawn. For most of the rest of the year these animals are very unobtrusive and difficult to find.
What's the difference?
Frogs and toads may look very similar but can easily be told apart. Frogs have more slender bodies, smooth moist skin and hop everywhere. Toads have more bulbous bodies, dry warty-looking skin and tend to crawl. The rare natterjack toad may be distinguished from the common toad by a yellow stripe down its back, and by the fact that it is totally incapable of hopping. As it has become so rare, and its special habitat threatened, the natterjack is strictly protected by law.
Newts can be seen by torchlight in the first two hours after dusk at pond margins, but only in the Spring during breeding and egg laying. For the rest of the year, newts take on a completely terrestrial way of life. In the UK, there are three species of newt. During the breeding season, the males grow crests on their backs which make the three species easy to tell apart - but only the males! The females all look quite similar as they don't have crests, but can be told apart by their colouration.
Besides differences in the adult animals, the spawn of all three types of amphibia have distinctive characteristics.
Frog spawn and toad spawn are quite different to look at, and are found in different places. Even the spawn of the two species of toad are different. The eggs of newts are very rarely seen as they are laid on underwater plants.
Moving spawn
It is NOT recommended to move spawn at all, even from an apparently overcrowded pond. Let the spawn achieve a natural balance - "too many" tadpoles are a vital food source for many creatures, including their own brothers and sisters!
Other concerns about moving spawn are to do with possible transference of diseases and inadvertently spreading invasive weeds such as Crassula helmsii (Australian marsh stonecrop) and azolla (Fairy fern). If you have to transfer spawn because the site is being destroyed, please consult the conservation officer at the Trust for advice. NEVER transfer adult amphibians unless they are in immediate danger.
Garden ponds should ideally not have fish in as they eat tadpoles, be at least 60 centimetres deep for toads, should have gently sloping sides to allow new froglets to emerge from the water and also have plants in the water and round the outside of the pond to give adults plenty of shelter.
It is best to watch tadpoles from the side of a pond, but if you must bring some indoors, keep them in a tank with 5 litres of water per tadpole and away from strong sunlight. The water should preferably be from the pond and newly hatched tadpoles will need pond weed to feed on and hold onto. After a few days, nettles and spinach blanched in hot water can be given. At about the time that back legs start to appear, tadpoles begin to eat meat, so protein based flaked fish food may be added at this stage, but only as much as can be eaten in one hour. Newly metamorphosed tadpoles need easy ways to get out of the water as they begin to use their newly formed lungs to breathe. At this stage, when the back legs have fully formed, the tadpoles should be released at the edge of the pond, preferably the same pond that they came from. Choose a warm day, but don't leave them in direct sunlight.
Health and Disease
For information on causes of frog mortality including spawn failure, tadpole loss and disease in adult frogs, please see the Froglife Advice Sheet - 'Amphibian Health and Disease' on the Froglife website (www.froglife.org).
NOTE
To download the Froglife Advice Sheet please right-click on the above link and select to "Save Target As...". You will be prompted to save the PDF file to a location on your own computer.
Legislation
Our native amphibia have been protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. All amphibians are given some protection, but the natterjack toad and great crested or warty newt have been given special protection.
Unless you have a licence, it is illegal to offer for sale (which includes hire, barter or exchange) ANY amphibia. With the specially protected species, it is illegal to kill, injure or catch or attempt to do these things; or to have in your possession (unless legally obtained); or to sell; or to damage, destroy or obstruct any place being used for shelter or protection; or to disturb these animals. If you are found doing any of these things there is a fine of up to £1,000 for each animal involved. There are exceptions for accidental killings and for situations which could not reasonably have been avoided.
It is also illegal to introduce into the wild any non-native species as was done in the past with the African clawed toad and European tree frog. Even though these are locally established it is illegal to introduce more of them. This offence carries an unlimited fine.
Research
County Wildlife Trusts always welcome records of amphibia breeding sites.
Further Information
- Froglife
The national wildlife charity concerned with the protection of Britain's amphibians and reptiles.
Tel: 01733 558444
Email:
Website: www.froglife.org
- "How to make a small pond"
Ursula Bowon
Published by BBONT
Obtain from: WATCH
- "How to begin the study of amphibians"
R. Griffiths
Published by Richmond Publishing Company
Obtain from: WATCH
- "Frogs and Toads"
Trevor Beebee
Published by Whiter Books
- "A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe"
Arnold, Burton and Ovendon
Published by Collins
