Amphibians

Toad Migrations and Road Casualties

Common toads undertake annual migrations to breeding ponds that cross roads, resulting in thousands of road casualties each spring.

Key Facts

Common toad populations have declined by 68% in the UK since the 1980s
Toads return to the same breeding pond every year, crossing the same roads
Toad Patrol volunteers rescue toads from roads on migration nights
Underpasses specifically designed for amphibians are highly effective
Road kills can remove significant proportions of local breeding populations

Welfare Considerations

Toads struck by vehicles suffer traumatic injuries. Those not immediately killed may survive with injuries that lead to slow deaths. Toad migrations occur at night in wet weather when visibility is poor and collision risk is highest. Local population extinctions from road mortality remove breeding populations irreversibly. Protection of migration corridors is essential for toad welfare and conservation.

What You Can Do

Join a local Toad Patrol group during March and April migration nights
Advocate for toad tunnels and road closure signs on migration routes
Support Amphibian and Reptile Conservation and local wildlife trusts
Slow down when driving on roads near ponds in spring on wet evenings
Create garden ponds to support local amphibian populations