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Out of all the amphibians native to our area, common toads are the most loyal to their birth pond. Every year, they make a trip back to their natal pond, which can happen between January and April. This migration is typically prompted by mild and damp weather. After coming out of their hibernation spots, they travel back to their place of birth, which can be up to 5km away and often requires crossing busy roads.

Regrettably, their slow and unaware movement makes them highly susceptible to vehicle accidents. Approximately 20 tonnes of toads are fatally hit by cars on roads in the United Kingdom each year, amounting to 250,000 or more individuals. As the species has decreased by 68% in the past three decades, it is crucial to monitor past migratory pathways to ensure the survival and breeding success of as many toads as possible.

With the early evening temperature a desirable 8C and steady drizzle falling, we don our hi-vis jackets and head out on toad patrol. A fellow volunteer tells me that in the 1970s, the road adjacent to the Brickkiln Ponds was reputedly a seething mass of amorous amphibians. Tonight’s movement is a much quieter affair, but as I scan the gully, my torch beam picks out a squat, nubbly-skinned male attempting to cross.

I pick him up and carefully put him in my bucket. We gather one more lone frog and two pairs in the mating position, with the smaller males riding on the backs of the females carrying eggs. As we transport them across the road and down the path to the edge of the water, the males on top start making chirping noises and kicking their hind legs, trying to take over or defend against their competitors.

As we look back, seeing a recently squished female with her tongue hanging out is a reminder that no matter how hard we try, we can’t rescue every one of them. I remove the body from the road to avoid it being counted twice. While many drivers are kind and slow down to let us pass, one driver accelerates and swerves towards the side of the road, turning their headlights on high beam and momentarily blinding me. In that moment, I understand the disorientation and fear that the toad must have experienced, blinded by the bright lights of an approaching vehicle in the dark.

Source: theguardian.com