truthisouthere
16-05-2015, 11:36 AM
It's that time of year kicked off again, our native amphibians falling into drains. :(
1st rescue. Mrs Frog, local drain installed recently, one of the casualties of the 'Highways Improvement' decisions made by the local authorities. :roll:
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa474/MrPutney08/drainedfrog100321051.jpg (http://s1199.photobucket.com/user/MrPutney08/media/drainedfrog100321051.jpg.html)
Palmate newt, netted out of local'ish' hospital site drain..full of eggs but no way of escape.
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa474/MrPutney08/IMG_3981.jpg (http://s1199.photobucket.com/user/MrPutney08/media/IMG_3981.jpg.html)
Mr Toad (2 dead, 2 alive that day). Crouching down to hide, he was actually quite emaciated.
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa474/MrPutney08/traumatised%20toad%20drain%20rescue.jpg (http://s1199.photobucket.com/user/MrPutney08/media/traumatised%20toad%20drain%20rescue.jpg.html)
Mr newt, it was a very hot day and newts are one of the few rescued from drains as they are hard to spot, so this one went to a pond where he would be safe from tumbling down drains..
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa474/MrPutney08/released%20drain%20newt2.jpg (http://s1199.photobucket.com/user/MrPutney08/media/released%20drain%20newt2.jpg.html)
I checked out a newish housing estate yesterday, 17 toads and 2 frogs later, all alive and released in undergrowth and log pile areas. It's never ending, and as yet there is no workable solution to prevent the huge loss every year of our native amphibians down drains. Toads are fast disappearing and are now on the list of protected species, 'mitigation procedures' with new developments are not often working, even when their ancestral pond is left, they will all head for the nearest water course they come across (new drains) as that is what their instinct tells them. These ones in the drain, some rescued alive, some dead, were surrounded by frog and toadspawn, a shameful waste of lives and a hopeless situation.
If anyone reading this can carry a basic amphibian rescue kit in your car at this time of year, it doesn't cost much, a child's fishing net, a little time, and a bottle of cool rainwater to rinse, (you'll need to bend the netted bit to fit the drain slot) please check (safely) your drains where you live, these innocent lives would be most grateful. Please wash your hands well afterwards as some can people have minor skin irritation after handling toads.
1st rescue. Mrs Frog, local drain installed recently, one of the casualties of the 'Highways Improvement' decisions made by the local authorities. :roll:
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa474/MrPutney08/drainedfrog100321051.jpg (http://s1199.photobucket.com/user/MrPutney08/media/drainedfrog100321051.jpg.html)
Palmate newt, netted out of local'ish' hospital site drain..full of eggs but no way of escape.
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa474/MrPutney08/IMG_3981.jpg (http://s1199.photobucket.com/user/MrPutney08/media/IMG_3981.jpg.html)
Mr Toad (2 dead, 2 alive that day). Crouching down to hide, he was actually quite emaciated.
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa474/MrPutney08/traumatised%20toad%20drain%20rescue.jpg (http://s1199.photobucket.com/user/MrPutney08/media/traumatised%20toad%20drain%20rescue.jpg.html)
Mr newt, it was a very hot day and newts are one of the few rescued from drains as they are hard to spot, so this one went to a pond where he would be safe from tumbling down drains..
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa474/MrPutney08/released%20drain%20newt2.jpg (http://s1199.photobucket.com/user/MrPutney08/media/released%20drain%20newt2.jpg.html)
I checked out a newish housing estate yesterday, 17 toads and 2 frogs later, all alive and released in undergrowth and log pile areas. It's never ending, and as yet there is no workable solution to prevent the huge loss every year of our native amphibians down drains. Toads are fast disappearing and are now on the list of protected species, 'mitigation procedures' with new developments are not often working, even when their ancestral pond is left, they will all head for the nearest water course they come across (new drains) as that is what their instinct tells them. These ones in the drain, some rescued alive, some dead, were surrounded by frog and toadspawn, a shameful waste of lives and a hopeless situation.
If anyone reading this can carry a basic amphibian rescue kit in your car at this time of year, it doesn't cost much, a child's fishing net, a little time, and a bottle of cool rainwater to rinse, (you'll need to bend the netted bit to fit the drain slot) please check (safely) your drains where you live, these innocent lives would be most grateful. Please wash your hands well afterwards as some can people have minor skin irritation after handling toads.