Volunteers Race to Protect Toads from Road Casualties

In the past decade, the UK's toad population has faced a dramatic decline, with the number of these amphibians almost halving since 1985. A recent study found that hundreds of thousands of toads are killed on roads across the country each year, a major factor in their dwindling numbers.

However, a network of 274 dedicated volunteer groups, known as "toad patrols," are working to protect their local toad populations. These groups, spread throughout the UK, spend their evenings picking up toads and carrying them safely across roads during the animals' annual spring migration. They also count the number of toads, both dead and alive, and advocate for protective measures like road closures and wildlife tunnels.

While the patrols' efforts have helped slow the decline, experts warn that more permanent solutions are needed to truly safeguard the future of Britain's toads. The climate crisis, habitat loss, and other threats continue to endanger the species. Researchers say that building properly designed toad tunnels under roads could provide a long-term fix, but caution that these must be implemented carefully to ensure the toads actually use them.

With the toad's cultural significance and important role in the ecosystem, conservationists are determined to prevent these iconic amphibians from disappearing from the British countryside. But they emphasize the need for more scientific research to better understand the specific reasons behind the species' decline and develop effective, evidence-based strategies to protect it.