Page 1 of 2 The Frog And Toad.

September 1999 THE IVEL WILDLIFE GROUP The Ivel Wildlife Group is for people interested in the animals and plants of the Ivel Valley focused on Biggleswade and Sandy. It forms part of the Wildlife Trusts' network of local groups. Details of Ivel Wildlife Group events and activities can be found on the back page of ‘The Lapwing’; a free publication obtainable from the public library in Biggleswade. THE 1999 SAXON GATE TOAD LIFT Between February and April 1999 more than 2500 adult amphibians (frogs, toads and newts) were rescued from the Saxon Gate Balancing Pond. This is double last year’s figures. In addition, during the juvenile migration of June and July over 14,000 toadlets and froglets were collected from the drains, roads and grass verges near the pond. Many residents from the local area helped with the rescue, collecting baby frogs and toads from their estate, putting them in the fields. Staff members from the Saxon Gate swimming pool also contributed towards the rescue.		No. 1a FROGS IN YOUR GARDEN Frogs are timid animals. They tend to stay in or near ponds all of their lives. If your garden is near a pond then you may see frogs looking for food in damp weather. Frogs are good for the garden as they eat all types of insects, slugs and snails, but do not eat plants or flowers. If you see a frog hopping around in your garden then rest assured, he is your friend. TOADS IN YOUR GARDEN Toads are not so timid as frogs. They live on land for most of their lives and only visit ponds in the breeding season. Even if you live several miles from a pond you may still see a toad walking around in your garden. Toads eat the same food as frogs; they also eat ants. The toad is another friend of the gardener. Many baby frogs and toads die when they are young, some are eaten by birds. Those that do survive can live for 30 years. These adults always visit the same pond to breed in early spring.