Toads!

It's estimated that approximately 20 tonnes of toads are killed annually on the UK's roads. That's the equivalent of about a quarter of a million toads slaughtered inadvertently by largely oblivious drivers. For hundreds of years the onset of warmer weather has resulted in thousands of toads leaving hibernation at dusk, and heading  to ancestral spawning ponds around Otley.

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When WFO saw the resulting carnage, we set up regular patrols of volunteers to observe this remarkable event and help the toads cross safely. First came the patrol at High Royds, where drains and high kerbs formed additional obstacles to these determined amphibians. Then in 2023 an even larger migration was identified near the end of East Busk Lane and the community alerted. From mid-February to the end of March, when it's at least 5 degrees (and especially if it's been raining), hi-viz clad volunteers of all ages and from all over West Yorkshire bring buckets and torches to make a big difference for these toad populations.

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At High Royds 500 toads are regularly helped, while down East Busk Lane it's in the region of 2000. This year's EBL patrols have also helped a significant number of Smooth and Palmate Newts making the same perilous crossing. All this data is passed on to Froglife (the national amphibian charity), the West Yorkshire Ecological Service, the Yorkshire Amphibian & Reptile Group, and Wharfedale Naturalists’ Society's amphibian recorder Denis O'Connor. The WNS helped the safety of the volunteers by providing traffic signs and lamps for the two patrols. Local residents are now much more understanding and supportive of the toad migrations, and sometimes actively helpful.

People become really fond of the toads, despite them not being the most beautiful or obviously clever of animals. They have bags of character, and everyone likes the disgruntled squeaks of the males. Then there’s the fascination with this mysterious and powerful instinct to head from all parts to the same ponds every spring. It’s a timeless event, and for centuries people have had a sense of living alongside the toads. One of our volunteers, Alastair Watson, found toad references on old maps of East Busk Lane, such as one from 1835 that showed one field next to the lane actually called “Toad Hole”. This might not be the most spectacular of landscapes, but it’s full of wildlife. Toad patrollers regularly see bats hunting, such as Pipistrelles and Soprano Pipistrelles; and it’s not unusual to see and hear the Tawny Owls and Barn Owls. Occasionally a huge skein of geese flies over, and we often hear the piping call of Oystercatchers.

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We’ve also enjoyed learning about  cultural aspects of toads. For example, the collective nouns for amphibians: a knot of toads, an army of frogs and an armada of newts. Apparently the link with drunkenness comes from young Royal Navy ensigns in Nelson’s time being known as Newts”.

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If you're interested in the Guiseley Drive toad crossing you can join that group on Facebook. The East Busk Lane group can be contacted at wildlifefriendlyotley@gmail.com  New volunteers are always welcome in this rewarding and essential endeavour.

 

Thanks to Claire Blindell, Diane Cook, Chris Claxton, Ellie Preston and Claire Turner for their great photos.