Species information
One of the smaller animals in World on the Move but no less important, the Toad has a migration of it very own. Not to be confused with Frogs, Toads have dry warty skin and fiery golden eyes. They are brown-green in colour and can also be recognised as they more often that not crawl and do small hops unlike frogs, which commonly move in charismatic leaps.
The Migration:
Every year in February and March Toads come out from their hibernation sites and start to head to breeding ponds in large numbers. These Toads may travel 1 to 2 km crossing roads, railways and other obstacles to reach the ponds. At some sites, this can mean that upwards of a thousand Toads migrate to a pond in just a few days. The result can be impressive with ponds teeming with vocal males all trying to get a mate and have the best chance of reproducing.
Time and Distance:
Roughly February to March, Toads need a run of mild nights and are more likely to move after rain. They may travel 1 to 2km to the ponds.
Energy:
Toads will use stored energy that they have retained throughout hibernation.
Reason for Migration:
To return to ponds in order to reproduce.
The Project:
Over one thousand volunteers went out on Toad patrols in the months of February and March. With the help of Froglife, ARG UK and their volunteers up and down the country we were able to track the spread of Toad migrations as they happened.
The data from Toad Patrols and from your sightings have now formed a map of Toad migration in 2008. As you can see from the map, it started in the warmer south and then spread northwards.
The information of where, when and how many migrations occured will also provide valuable scientific data for Froglife in monitoring and conserving these important amphibians in the future.
