Call for toad road safety patrols

Toads face perilous journeys across roads to reach mating grounds

Wildlife experts are calling for people to start up patrols to help save toads from being run over on busy roads.

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust said hundreds of toads could perish during the current mating season.

Toads return to the place where they were born to mate each spring and tend to also cross roads at the same place, which is why so many are killed.

The wildlife trust is calling for people to set up patrols at dusk to help toads cross dangerous roads.

We are definitely calling for more protection and awareness of frogs and toads Beth Gardner, wildlife expert

During patrols volunteers put toads in buckets and carry them across the road. Signs can also be put up warning drivers about the patrols.

Beth Gardner, director of conservation at the trust, said the numbers of frogs and toads in the countryside were dropping drastically.

She said urban areas were becoming more important for the amphibians and encouraged people to put ponds in their gardens.

"We are definitely calling for more protection and awareness of frogs and toads and their importance and environmental indicators."

She said people could find out more about toad patrols by visiting the Froglife charity website.