Toads and frogs are killed crossing the road

Road signs are being erected as thousands of awakening toads get ready to migrate to breeding ponds.

Cumbria Wildlife Trust fears many may be killed as they use regular routes - most which include a cross-road trip.

The road signs will be in place until May, as the animals instinctively follow centuries old routes straight across busy roads.

David Harpley, Senior Conservation Manager at Cumbria Wildlife Trust, said: "The reason there is a problem is because toads breed in ponds.

"But they spend the rest of their time in the surrounding countryside hunting slugs and obviously they have to get between the two. So particularly around breeding time, they risk getting squashed.

Spawning ponds

"Toads are very particular about their breeding site and will head for one specific body of water, even if it means passing others along the way.

"Warning signs are in place at busy toad crossing points on our roads and in some places volunteers have built special underpasses or even spent time physically carrying toads across the road."

Toad populations are in decline across the UK, and so information on the location of spawning ponds, hibernation places and the migration routes is vital.

Part of the reason for this decline is that many toads become homeless each year as wild ponds are lost due to road building, development, pollution, intensive farming and drought.

The common toad has not adapted as well to garden ponds as the common frog, as they need deeper water to spawn successfully.

There are road signs warning drivers to look out for toads at various crossing locations around the county including Lindale Road, Grange-over-Sands; Dubs Lane at Sawrey; Loughrigg Tarn near Ambleside; Portinscale near Keswick and on the Eaglesfield to Brandlingill road near Cockermouth.