Home / Environment / Two Million Toads Safely Crossed Roads
Two Million Toads Safely Crossed Roads
28 Jan
Summary
- Over two million toads have been guided across roads.
- Common toad populations have declined by 41% in 40 years.
- Volunteers collect vital data to aid toad conservation efforts.
Over the past 50 years, dedicated volunteers in Britain have safely guided more than two million toads across roads during their annual spring migration. This initiative, spearheaded by the wildlife charity Froglife, is vital for a species facing widespread decline.
Data indicates common toad populations have dropped by 41% over 40 years, though some regional recovery has been observed since 2013. In 2025, a record 280 volunteer groups moved over 156,000 toads, contributing to the cumulative total of two million amphibians aided since 1974.
Volunteers patrol roads between overwintering grounds and breeding ponds on wet nights, carrying toads, frogs, and newts to safety. Beyond saving lives, this citizen science effort provides crucial data for conservation, impacting planning decisions and informing research on climate change.
Froglife notes areas like Scotland, the Midlands, and the north-east of England lack active patrols despite known toad crossings. The charity urges residents in these regions to consider starting patrols, emphasizing that even one evening of effort can save hundreds of amphibians.
However, common toads continue to face threats from habitat loss and pollution. Froglife is advocating for the Water Reform Bill to address freshwater pollution from agriculture and sewage, calling for stronger environmental regulation and protection for wildlife habitats.
