Natterjack toads are the UK rarest amphibian, restricted to coastal dune and heathland sites. Targeted habitat management supports population recovery.
Individual natterjack toads face high mortality from habitat degradation — the shallow pools they need dry rapidly and warm quickly, and are vulnerable to scrub shading that cools them below breeding thresholds. Conservation management including scrub clearance, pool creation and fencing to exclude grazing animals from breeding pools directly reduces welfare-relevant mortality. Translocation to new sites carries welfare risks if not conducted under licence with appropriate handling protocols. Artificial pool creation has successfully established new colonies.