Natterjack Toad Welfare on Coastal Heaths

The natterjack toad is the UK's rarest amphibian, restricted to coastal dunes and lowland heaths. Its loud chorus was once widespread; today it survives at fewer than 60 sites.

Key Facts

Fewer than 60 UK breeding sites — legally protected under Schedule 5 Wildlife and Countryside Act
Males produce the loudest call of any UK amphibian — audible 1km away
Requires shallow, warm, temporary pools for breeding — permanent ponds are unsuitable
Crawls rather than hops — highly adapted to sand substrates
Threatened by sand stabilisation, coastal development and fire suppression on heaths

Welfare Considerations

Natterjack toads face welfare threats from pond desiccation — temporary pools that dry too early kill tadpoles before metamorphosis. Climate change is creating both more frequent early drying events and occasional late-season flooding that washes larvae from ponds. On coastal sites, stabilisation of dune systems with marram grass eliminates the bare sand areas toads require for burrowing and thermoregulation. The welfare of individual animals is directly affected by the quality of pool management: pools that are too deep, shaded or vegetated fail to warm sufficiently for normal tadpole development.

What You Can Do

Support Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust natterjack recovery work
Report natterjack sightings to your county ARG (Amphibian and Reptile Group)
Volunteer for pool management tasks at natterjack reserves
Avoid using any pesticides near coastal dune or heath habitats
Donate to Natural England natterjack translocation and monitoring programmes