Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – FRI-Yay/Good News

~ John W. Howell
Photo by T-Bone Sandwich, CC license
Today’s story is from the Good News Network. Except for some grammar changes here is the story in its entireity.

Village Saves 45,000 Toads From Roadway Deaths, Cutting Casualties By 60%—All the Way Down to 3% Rate

By Andy Corbley

Dispersed around the UK, hundreds of heroic volunteers soak themselves to the skin on early spring nights in order to save toads, frogs, and newts from being squished under the tires of passing cars.

This network of volunteer societies is literally transforming England by slowly walking across dark asphalt with a high-beam flashlight and a high-visibility jacket, picking up amphibians and dropping them into a bucket for safe transport across the road.

They are reducing the toll of roadkill on local amphibian populations by enormous amounts and ensuring they can keep up their valuable ecosystem services like keeping insect populations in check and filling the spring air with their soft croaking songs.

If you don’t live in a wet or rain-prone area, and you’ve never been on the road during frog/toad mating season, you might think, “How hard is it to just avoid running them over?” But it’s not that simple, for starters, because they can gather in such numbers that swerving to avoid one puts your tires on another, and small frogs and newts look just like leaves and twigs on the dark tarmac through a rain-splattered windshield.

Last year, England’s 203 amphibian rescue groups saved at least 115,000 animals from roads.

The Guardian’s Adrian Sherratt went out one night with Charlcombe Toad Rescue near the ancient city of Bath to photograph and participate in a rainy night’s rescue operations.

This group has brought the number of amphibian deaths from road crossings down to 3% from 60%. When you think that in March, hundreds of mama toads and frogs cross the street with bellies full of eggs, that equates to the survival of thousands of animals.

Bath is renowned for wet areas and hot springs, and frogs and toads need to reach these bodies of water to mate or lay eggs. But being a well-developed area, it involves crossing a lot of roads.

“I find it very emotional, actually,” said Angela, a Charlcombe volunteer. “And it becomes more emotional as you do it. You see a creature that’s so vulnerable just sitting there, and you can see it’s pregnant and bulging with babies. You want them to have a fighting chance of making it to their breeding grounds.”

Charlcombe has been active during the breeding seasons since 2003 and has saved over 40,000 animals from roads. There is a waiting list to join the 50 or so volunteers needed for the operation, which also crowdfunds a £1,500 sum to pay for the main road to be closed during the breeding season.

Froglife is a charity that coordinates the mass data collection that these efforts generate. They also help connect those desiring to volunteer with toad patrols in their area.

On that note, there are dozens and dozens of toad patrol groups that need new members, particularly in Cheshire, Lancashire, and the Isle of Wight.

Today’s JohnKu applauds there volunteers. I hope you have a safe and enjoyable weekend.

Frogs,toads, and newts by John W. Howell © 2012

Frogs, toads, newts, oh my,

Such lowly creatures and yet . . .

There are folks who care.

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Published by John W. Howell

I have been working in business for over forty years and now have the time to work in special areas of interest. My passion has always been to create compelling stories of fiction. I have authored six novels and am working on my Seventh. The first novel is still in manuscript form and being utilized as a door stop in the laundry room. The second is a contemporary fiction novel of 89,000 words and is complete and I am currently seeking a publisher. I also write poetry but have not had the guts to share any with anyone. The one time I read a piece to a person their only comment was, “it doesn’t rhyme.” I will continue to write and hopefully my blog, Fiction Favorites at www.johnwhowell.com will provide some entertainment and an interesting thought or two. I live in the Austin area with my wife Molly and an assortment of loving pets.

81 thoughts on “Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – FRI-Yay/Good News”

  4. Thank you for this one, John. We are toad patrollers in our little village and have been out many evenings saving toads, frogs and newts on our busy coast roads. Helping them to reach the waters is vital as so many otherwise are squashed to death. Quite upsetting, two days ago someone nicked the fluorescent signs by road warning the drivers that toads and helpers are on the road!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I have to wonder why someone would want the signs unless they plan to plant them near their Mother-in-Law’s house. You are to be congratulated for your work in preserving these helpful creatures. Thanks F4oC.

      Like

  8. Excellent, John. Kudos to the volunteers in the UK. A few years back, our friend nearly ran over a tiny turtle while moving the yard. Enamored by the cute creature snatched from death, he set up a small aquarium. Roll forward a few years, the beautiful creature now lives in a large, multi-gallon water kingdom fit for the star attraction of their fun room. The benefit or preserving life know no bounds.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. We don’t think of the importance of certain critters on the ecosystem. Lose one and a whole ‘nother species takes over. I’ll take the amphibians over the bugs, like mosquitos that carry disease!
    Wonderful share on this bright and blue-skied, but cold Friday, John!

    Liked by 1 person

  12. This is such a cool story! I’ve always had a soft spot for frogs and toads. What an amazing difference these people are making. I love that there is a waiting list to join the rescue groups. I’d be on that list!

    Liked by 2 people

  13. Fun story, John, and it’s one I won’t forget. It doesn’t take much to make a positive difference in the life of our creature cohabitants.

    Liked by 2 people

  15. I was feeling a bit grumpy this morning until I read this, John. Thanks for sharing such an uplifting story. It does my heart good to know there are still lots of folks out there who care enough to take on actions of this nature. Yay, them!!! 😀 ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  20. We help the turtles cross here and any newt away from water. Yay, for those volunteers saving these frogs and toads too!

    Liked by 2 people

  22. John, we humans have big hearts for animals, sometimes more than we have for other humans. Nice story.

    (I wonder if they kept a few for dinner. They say that legs taste like chicken)

    Liked by 1 person

  23. I’ve experienced this firsthand. Once, immediately following a Midwestern storm, I recall the road being covered with thousands of frogs. I had seen nothing like it. There was literally no way to avoid running many over because they were hopping all over the road.

    Liked by 1 person

  27. Wonderful good news story John. Whilst so many at the top level are flapping their gums about claptrap, some people who deserve the spotlight are out all night rescuing creatures who are so important to our ecosytem… I know which ones I would be happy to volunteer to save! hugs Sally.

    Like

  33. Lowly.. to some.
    They were there before the roads and cars.
    We are the interlopers. We owe them something.
    This is a terrific effort. Standing ovation to the volunteers.

    Thank you for the JohnKu!!!

    🐸𝞌 🐂 🐂 🐸𝞌

    Liked by 2 people

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