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RAUK's a Herp a day!

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JaySteel View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JaySteel Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 May 2016 at 3:54pm
I visited a garden about a mile away from me in Kent yesterday following a report of someone's lawn being covered with mating toads.

We found 20 adult toads. 12 of which were in amplexus. The house used to have a large garden pond three years ago, but the new owners of the house had filled it in, and now wondered why they had toads that kept "invading" their garden every year. The toads had found a small temporary body of water in the garden which they'd already filled with spawn. When the spawn turns to tadpoles they'll have nothing to eat except each other.

I felt so sorry for these toads. The house was full of kids that were each carrying a toad in either hand as their new pets. These toads had been trapped in the children's hands for hours. They had also filled a 3ft aquarium right to the top with tap water and placed a couple of toads in there. They had no vegetation and nothing to sit on or to hold on to and looked exhausted when I got there. Thankfully I was able to provide some advice to the owners of the house and their children, but I think these toads are in for a hard time at that address.

Mid-May does seem very late for toads to still be mating. Does anyone else still have mating toads in other areas?



Edited by JaySteel - 14 May 2016 at 4:00pm
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chubsta View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote chubsta Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 May 2016 at 5:01pm
terrible shame - i am in Kent and haven't seen a toad in my garden for years, although my pond is teeming with frogs and their tadpoles, even newts have returned in the last couple of years.

I know it is not usually a good idea but as their original home has now gone and if you need anywhere to 'rehome' a few i would be very glad to give them a decent environment, the only dangers they would face here would be hedgehogs...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Suzy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 May 2016 at 9:56pm
I have toads in my garden, but I've no idea where they breed. I can't think of anywhere nearby that is suitable, but I keep finding juveniles so there must be!
What a shame they filled the pond in. I can understand it is a danger to unsupervised children, but what a missed opportunity to get the children interested in pond life.
Suz
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JaySteel View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JaySteel Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 May 2016 at 12:11pm
Chubsta - I think the toad population at this house is pretty healthy. I inspected the toads for any signs of disease and none were visible. I'm in north Kent near Dartford. I'm not usually keen on the idea of moving amphibians or spawn from one area to another but these tadpoles are not going to survive without re-homing. I don't know if your location would make it feasible or not to transfer some of the spawn to your place.  Email me at jay.steel@ntlworld.com

Suzy - I have a similar situation with frogs. They have always been present in my garden but I'm not sure where the breeding pond is. I think it might be in the local school. Unfortunately most parents and schools don't place a high enough importance on educating today's children on wildlife and the natural environment any more. It is a real shame. Encouraging head-teachers to take an interest in the natural world can influence a whole generation of kids. Some schools do still have ponds and small dedicated wildlife areas which is great.
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