Wildlife Welfare

Wild Natterjack Toad Conservation Welfare

The natterjack toad is one of the UK's rarest amphibians, restricted to a small number of coastal and heathland sites requiring intensive conservation management.

Key Facts

Natterjack toads are restricted to fewer than 60 sites in the UK
They require warm, shallow pools on sandy soils for breeding
The distinctive churring call of males can be heard up to a kilometre away
Conservation translocations have established new populations at suitable sites
Chytrid fungal disease is a potential emerging threat to natterjack populations

Welfare Considerations

Natterjack toads at the edge of their range face welfare challenges from habitat degradation, competition from common toads, and predation. Conservation management including pool creation and maintenance, common toad removal, and predator control directly improves welfare by enabling successful breeding. Each successfully breeding natterjack population represents a welfare and conservation success.

What You Can Do

Support Amphibian and Reptile Conservation natterjack programmes
Advocate for habitat management requirements at natterjack sites
Report natterjack toads to local recording groups to support monitoring