Woodland Toad Patrol

Each spring there is a mass emergence in our woodlands. Amphibians of all shapes and sizes emerge from the undergrowth to make their way to their breeding pools. Toads, newts and frogs all must make this voyage in order to find a mate and reproduce successfully. You might be surprised to hear that our amphibians don't spend all year round in water. In fact woodlands are a perfect refuge for them during the cold winter months. The way to distinguish a toad from a frog is that toads have warty skin and short back legs. They also walk rather than hop like a frog. During this mass migration the males wait for females to pass before latching onto them, hoping for an easy lift to where they need to go. However this journey isn't always safe and especially in this modern world can be riddled with dangers. Our roads are a perilous place for wildlife. Fast moving animals like deer, badgers and foxes are often struck down by vehicles. So a slow moving animal like a toad stands little to no chance. This is where humans have started to help. One of those organisations is Henley Toad Patrol. Volunteers from around the local area dedicate their evenings at this cold wet time of year to come and help save these beautiful amphibians from the perils of our roads. Carefully picking up newts, frogs and toads and helping them cross the road safely. The number of amphibians saved year on year varies with a record number of over 10,000 amphibians saved in one early spring. Without the help of these devoted volunteers the local toad population would surely by now be almost completely decimated along with the local newts and frogs too. Once the toads have been safely carried across the dangerous road, they're placed close by to their breeding pool where they can enter at their own pace and continue with their mass migration and starting to find a mate. This also goes for the various newts and frogs too. In this amphibian mating bonanza, toads always return to the pond that they themselves were born in. This is where males will vie for a female and if successful will grasp onto her back. A female on average will lay 1,500 eggs. These eggs then hatch into tadpoles that through the summer will begin their transformation into an adult toad after they themselves will leave the pond and head back to the woodland, starting the cycle all over again.