Since 1985, the UK's common toad population has nearly halved, with hundreds of thousands killed on roads each year. A study by Froglife, led by Dr Silviu Petrovan of the University of Cambridge, revealed this decline. Toads, which should thrive in most British habitats, are struggling, suggesting broader environmental issues.
Traffic is a major factor: Froglife estimates 20 tonnes of toads are killed annually on UK roads. Unlike frogs, toads travel long distances to ancestral breeding ponds, often crossing roads. Their migration begins around Valentine's Day and can last until April, with all toads moving simultaneously.
Volunteer 'toad patrols' have formed across the country, with 274 groups registered under Froglife's Toads on Roads initiative. These groups carry toads across roads in buckets, count casualties, and advocate for road closures and tunnels. The Warminster toad patrol in Wiltshire operates year-round, unlike most seasonal patrols.
Patrol manager Ria Painter-Coates and her son Dexter, along with founding member Iain Perkins, search for toads even during hibernation. Despite a dry night yielding no sightings, their dedication highlights the effort to save a species that has been a staple of British countryside and folklore.
