Zonhoven (Brussels Morning Newspaper) -During this period, toads, frogs, and salamanders come out from their habitats to reach ponds for mating purposes. Various volunteers assist with toad crossing operations because these creatures need protection from street vehicles.
Local residents of Zonhoven participate in the yearly amphibian crossing program that protects amphibians on their journey to mating areas. Volunteers participating in this WhatsApp group effort securely move toads together with frogs and salamanders across city streets.
Zonhoven has established fences with buckets across three locations to help with amphibian collection, and volunteers walk other streets to move amphibians to nearby breeding sites. The project operates during the migration season between February and April to protect thousands of amphibians from dangerous traffic incidents.
“There are 3 places in Zonhoven where fences have been placed with buckets,”
Says Guido Bertels of Natuurpunt. He coordinates the amphibian transfer in the region from the Platwijers to the Galgenberg.
“In addition, there are about 7 streets where volunteers put the amphibians they just find on the street in buckets and bring them to the pond.”
When the temperature after hibernation becomes a bit milder, around 10 degrees, the amphibians go to the pond where they were born.
“The migration takes place en masse, in a few weeks”,
Bertels explains.
“That means that there is a lot of movement on the street. Moreover, asphalt is warmer than the meadow next to it and amphibians like to sit on the somewhat warmer asphalt. That’s how thousands of them are run over in Flanders.”
To prevent this, volunteers like Charlotte Paesen quickly transfer a lot of toads, frogs and salamanders.
“Between February and April, we go out every evening to get all the amphibians out of the buckets or off the street. The coming days it will be colder again and it will be quiet for a while.”
“As soon as the weather is warmer, I’ll make a call in our WhatsApp group,”
Says Paesen.
“Everyone from the neighborhood is in that group. We agree among ourselves who can come on which day to take turns.”
Young residents, such as Lauren (11) and Kasper (12) Van den Broeck, also come to see it.
“There are 4 toads and 1 frog in my bucket,”
Says Lauren.
“We’ll transfer them to the pond soon to increase the toad population,”
Adds Brother Kasper.
What is the history behind Zonhoven’s Annual Toad Crossing initiative?
The annual toad crossing in Zonhoven started as part of Flanders-wide amphibian conservation initiatives which protect migration season activities. The migration of toads, along with frogs and salamanders, toward breeding sites has encountered major road traffic challenges for decades.
Amphibian protection initiatives began under Natuurpunt and other conservation groups specifically aimed to direct amphibians through dangerous road practices. People in Zonhoven embraced the initiative when the project added migration point fences and capturing buckets and expanded community participation.
The adoption of technology through WhatsApp groups has improved coordination between volunteers since the beginning of the year. Since 2008, scientists have collected important information through the Hyla database by logging records of amphibians transferred for survival and recorded deaths.
