WILDLIFE lovers are being urged to join a volunteer army in a bid to save thousands of toads from being squashed by traffic as they migrate to their ancestral breeding grounds.

Every year Britain experiences an amphibious migration and this spring the Lakeland Wildlife Oasis at Milnthorpe is seeking volunteers from the local community, to help the native toads hop to safety.

When they come out of hibernation, instinct drives thousands of natterjack and common toads to head back to their ancestral breeding ponds. Following the same route brings them into conflict with manmade obstacles and main roads, leaving an estimated 20 tons of toads run over by British traffic every year.

The toll would be far greater were it not for organisations like Froglife, a UK based charity committed to the conservation of native amphibians and reptiles. It is their ‘Toads on Roads’ initiative that the Milnthorpe zoo is supporting this spring.

The project sets up ‘Toad Patrols’ manned by volunteers and each migratory crossing site is managed by a patrol manager. Matt Carr, one of the Oasis keepers, is the manager for two sites at Silverdale and Stainton Lane.

The zoo will pick up Toad Patrol volunteers who are willing to travel to either site and help toads cross the roads safely during the breeding season. The toads cross on damp evenings from mid-February, typically when the weather warms to above five degrees.

Zoo manager Jack Williams said: “We often have people asking what they can do locally, and this a brilliant way to really make a difference to local wildlife conservation. Even volunteering for just one night helps. Being at the crossings on those vital evenings has been calculated to reduce toad deaths by an incredible 90 per cent.”

Jack adds; “The zoo always participates in British Science Week, and this March the theme is ‘Journeys’. How brilliant that we can support this indigenous spectacle where volunteers get a privileged glimpse into a secret world, seeing hundreds of toads on their epic journey. The project will also be promoted at the zoo’s reptile talks.”

With toad numbers more than halving in the last 30 years, local community effort really can make a big impact. Last year, 165 toad patrols across the country helped an incredible 98,483 toads safely across the road!

How to help: Every Saturday morning Matt will be manning a stand at the zoo where people can get all the information and sign up. Or go online at froglife.org, ‘find your nearest toad crossing’, and click ‘offer to help’ for Silverdale or Stainton Lane. Using the mailing list of volunteers, specific toad patrol dates will be sent out for both venues. All events will be fully supervised and risk assessed, with high-vis jackets, buckets, gloves, and handwashing equipment provided.

See ‘Toads on Roads’ stand at Lakeland Wildlife Oasis on Saturdays or ask any member of staff for information, open 7 days a week, 10am till 5pm. Or go to Visit www.wildlifeoasis.co.uk, ‘Lakeland Wildlife Oasis’ on Facebook, or www.froglife.org for more information.