Future activities
Once a patrol has been established for a year or two, the local pattern of amphibian movement will be better understood. Numbers and points of crossing will be known, and in many cases, contact with local landowners established. This may be particularly important in 'order that permission is gained to make far more efficient amphibian rescue work, for example by installing temporary or permanent amphibian fencing. Fencing has the benefit of reducing the number of volunteers needed, by channelling toads to places where they can be collected more easily for transfer across a road. The diagram on the previous page shows a simple polythene type fence, while strong permanent fencing that lasts for up to 30 years may now be purchased (see next section). In fact, since 1987, a number of wildlife tunnels have been built in order to make the patrol organisers life even easier, and duties can then concentrate on monitoring movements, a satisfying alternative to a tired back resulting from stooping to pick up toads for ten nights in a row.

Permanent tunnels, fencing and road drain rescues
ACO Technologies plc at Shefford, England, continue to put an enormous investment into designing new fence and tunnel systems to aid wildlife movement across roads. New, larger tunnel designs, entrance units and a 'post-free' fence material are now available, with regular improvements brought about as a result of ecologists studying a variety of designs. Send a large (A4) S.A.E. to ACO Wildlife, ACO Technologies plc, Hitchin Road, Shefford, Bedfordshire SG1 5TE (UK), Tel. 01462 816666, for a copy of the latest brochure. If you think that fencing or tunnels may be appropriate at your site/s, a free advisory service is available from Froglife.

Road drains kill a large number of amphibians and other animals. Circumstances vary, as in some cases amphibians can escape along the pipe leading from the drain chamber. The distance to the outside world varies; it may be a few dozen metres, but quite often is several hundred. The situation is often made worse by the increasing use of kerb stones that channel amphibians to grating covers, and replacement of brick-lined with smooth sided plastic linings. As with toad patrols, it is important to let your highway authority know if you are doing drain checks. Use a reflective jacket, and you will need a torch, two buckets with lids (for frogs), and a light dipping net. It is better if two people can work together. Never leave a drain grating open and unattended. The drawings opposite show two temporary measures that can help amphibians get away from polluted water and climb up on their own accord. A long term solution is obviously to reduce kerb height next to gratings, and for a grating manufacturer to design a finer dimension grating cover as standard, that can stay in place outside winter months. Write to your local authority and MP for such a measure to be introduced.

Local Networks
Toads on Roads project workers can share amphibian conservation ideas with their local herpetofauna groups, part of the Herpetofauna Groups of Britain and Ireland network being established in many counties and districts. These groups, as well as meeting as a national forum, aim to be active locally, surveying and protecting sites of particular interest to amphibians and reptiles. You can get in contact with your nearest group via the Froglife Common Species Co-ordinator, Jim Foster at:
Froglife, Triton House, Bramfield, Halesworth, Suffolk, 'IP19 9AE. Tel: 01986 784518.

Further Reading
Amphibians and Roads, (1989) (TES lasngton Ed.) Proceedings of the Toad Tunnel Conference. Technical reference to amphibian fences, tunnels and patrols in UK, Europe and USA, 202pp illus. ISBN 0951 517201. Available from ACO Technologies.

Frogs and Toads, (1985) by Trevor Beebee.
Whittet series, l2Ipp illust.ISBN 0905483 38 3.

Herpetofauna Workers Guide 1995, by Froglife. (Update due 1997). Directory of organisations concerning amphibian and reptile conservation in UK and Ireland, including full list of sites approved by the Department of Transport for road warning signs, 60pp, ISBN 0 9521106 0 1.


A number of publications on the subject of toad migratory crossings, in a variety of European languages, are available on loan from the Triton House library.