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A Toad Patrol is a group of volunteers who monitor a stretch of
road that toads have to cross to reach their breeding pond in
the spring.
If the road is not too dangerous a Patrol may be possible. Your
safety is the primary concern so if the road is busy or has poor
visibility do not attempt to rescue any toads. If you do plan to
patrol then always wear reflective clothing and carry a torch.
Patrolling itself is quite simple - it's just a case of
collecting the toads from one side of the road and transporting
them to the other side in a bucket. Toads tend to start moving
around dusk and will continue into the night, depending on how
cold it gets; you only really need to patrol during the first
part of the evening when there is a high likelihood of them
encountering traffic.
Toads can emerge from hibernation any time from January onwards,
depending on local weather conditions; they tend to emerge a
little later than frogs. Amphibian movements are very dependent
on weather so it's crucial to check local forecasts; key signs
to look out for are: first mild temperatures (>5'C), together
with rain. When these conditions have been identified it's a
good idea to start monitoring the site - if you can, check the
site every evening but, otherwise, at least during/after
appropriate patches of weather. Most Patrols find it easiest to
have one person coordinating who can draw up a rota so not all
volunteers are out all the time; if a Patroller discovers a
particularly busy crossing one night they can then call on
reinforcements.
We ask Toad Patrollers to record the numbers of toads and other
amphibians they help across the road, and how many they see
killed. This data feeds into national monitoring projects and
helps us determine how the UK's toad population is faring as a
whole and can give a good idea of how successfully Patrols are
helping local populations. The data does not always provide an
accurate view - there can be various other influences on toad
numbers such as the weather causing them to move later at night
when they're not seen, or more volunteers available so more are
recorded - but it's certainly a good starting point.
Patroller resources
- including how to recruit volunteers, health
and safety, and requesting free equipment.
Interested in volunteering with a
local Toad Patrol?
Find
your nearest crossing.
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