Life-Saving Patrols in Cornwall
In north Cornwall, a dedicated team of volunteers has been busy ensuring hundreds of migrating toads make it safely to their breeding ponds. At Hawksland, near Wadebridge, patrols from the amphibian charity Froglife helped more than 379 toads cross a dangerous road, preventing them from being killed by traffic. Each spring, Froglife organizes similar efforts across the UK to protect toads traveling along their historic migration routes.
Tracking Toad Populations and Migration
Andy Smart from Froglife explained that the patrols not only save lives but also collect valuable data on the declining common toad population. “A recent study showed common toads have declined by 41% over the last 40 years,” he said. Since February, volunteers have been recording sightings and movements, helping scientists understand migration patterns and threats. In 2025 alone, Froglife’s 280 registered patrol groups relocated around 150,000 toads.
How You Can Help
Volunteers use vinyl gloves to gently pick up the toads and place them in buckets, releasing them safely at the ponds. Smart noted the toads will continue their journey for about three more weeks and encouraged members of the public to join a patrol group. “It’s a vital effort, not only to save the animals but to support scientific research and conservation,” he said.
